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JESUS 

A PASSION PLAY 



JESUS 

A PASSION PLAY 



BY 

MAX EHRMANN 

Author of "The Wife of Marobius,' 
"A Prayer," "Poems," etc. 



NEW YORK— LONDON 

TRADE SELLING AGENTS IN U. S. 

THE BAKER & TAYLOR CO. 
New York 






Copyright, 1915 
By max EHRMANN 



VAIL-BALLOU COMPANY 
BINQHAMTON AND NEW YORK 



JAN 13 1915, 

©GI,A391336 



The persons who founded Christianity 
are here stripped of supernatural embelHsh- 
ment; and they are represented as simple, 
real, ardent Orientals in the throes of a 
great and impending tragedy. 



Act I. The Cleansing of the Temple. 

Act II. Disputations in the Temple. 

Act III. Gethsemane. 

Act IV. The Trial before Pilate. 

Act V. The Resurrection. 



ACT I 
THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 



PERSONS IN ACT I 



Jesus 

Mary, a Magdalene 

Terreno, Captain of 

Roman Guards 
Caiaphas, High Priest 
JosES, Jesus' Brother 
Meier, a Pharisee 
Jachin, an Overseer 

the Temple 
David, a Damascene 
Nathan, a Galilean 
Judas, 
Peter, 

JOSIAS, 

Amiel, 



the 



of 



:} 



Disciples of Jesus 



Priests 



ers 



Scrib 



es 



Zarah, ] t , . 
, ^ J erusalemites 

Joseph, y 

S"!., 1^^°-^ Chang. 

JUBAL, J 

Simeon, 

JUDAH, 

Zera^ 

Saras, 

Eleazar, 

Benjamin 

Sala, 

Booz, 

Ezra, 

Jacob, 



^Traders 



Temple servants, Roman soldiers, Phoenicians, Jerusalem- 

Ites, a Gaulanite, an Egyptian Jew, a Canaite, 

a Caesarean, and many others. 



ACT I 

A portion of the Court of the Gentiles in the 
Temple at Jerusalem. At back are quadruple 
rows of Corinthian columns and a balustrade. 
Except a long table at right the Court is barren 
of furnishings. It is about the year 29, a Spring 
morning before the Feast of the Passover. 

\_Five Temple servants on their knees are mop- 
ping the floor. ^ 

First Servant 
We are nearly done. 

Second Servant 
By noon the floor will look as if we had not 
touched a cloth to it. 

Third Servant 
I never saw so many persons. All the streets 
are crowded. 

Fourth Servant 
There are more heathen than last year. 

Third Servant 

Yesterday I saw a good many Greeks. 

II 



12 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

First Servant 
Phoenicians have always come to the Passover. 

Second Servant 
There are more Arabians. 

First Servant 
No, there are more Phoenicians. 

Fourth Servant 
What difference does it make? 

Third Servant 
It does not make any difference. They are all 
heathen. 

Second Servant 
They envy us our God. 

Third Servant 
Some of them laugh at us. 

First Servant 
They have gods of their own. 

Second Servant 
But they do not believe in them. 

Fourth Servant 
How could they believe in them? They are 
false gods. They are not even dead gods. They 
never lived at all. The heathen only imagine 
that they lived. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 13 

Second Servant 
How can the unclrcumcised know anything 
about God? 

Third Servant 

They cannot. The uncircumcised cannot know 
anything about God. 

Second Servant 
It is dreadful to be uncircumcised. 

Fourth Servant 

I am an old man. I have prayed every day 
since I was a boy for Messias to come. Israel 
has suffered enough. God soon will see that 
Israel has suffered enough. 

First Servant 
Samuel, do you think the judgment of the Lord 
is near? 

Fifth Servant 
I do not think of it at all. I am troubled to- 
day. My son is sick. 

Third Servant 
Perhaps he has sinned. 

Fifth Servant 
I do not know if he has sinned. 

First Servant 
Rabbi Joseph says it will be another seventy 
years before Messias will come. 



14 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Third Servant 
Some say it will be less than fifty years. 

Fifth Servant 
I do not think anybody can tell how long it 
will be. 

\_Some persons are passing at back.~\ 

Fourth Servant 
It is terrible that the heathen rule over us. It 
was not so in the days of our forefathers. 

First Servant 
Night before last I saw the moon suddenly 
break through the heavens, like a great piece of 
gold that was falling. I watched, trembling, but 
nothing else happened. 

Fourth Servant 
One of these nights God will send Messias. 

Second Servant 
He will be a fighter that the Romans cannot 
withstand. His breast will be like stone, and his 
voice like the roar of young lions on the moun- 
tain. 

Fifth Servant 
Not long ago someone asked a son of Annas 
when Messias would come. He laughed and told 
him it was ridiculous. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 15 

Fourth Servant 
A son of Annas would not say that. 

Second Servant 

No, he would not say that. The Sadducees 
do not talk much. 

First Servant 
Neither do they believe much. 

Third Servant 

My father told me It would happen In my life 
If I lived to be his age. He was an old man 
when he died. 

[Enter Eleazar and Benjamin, traders; they 
approach the servants.^ 

Second Servant 

It will be wonderful to see the Romans bow 
down before us. 

Third Servant 
It will be wonderful to hear them crying out 
for the Holy Law, and begging for circumcision. 

Fourth Servant 
The Lord is watching. He will crush them. 
Messias will crush them. 

Eleazar 

(Trader) 

Where Is the overseer? 



i6 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Fourth Servant 
We have not seen him. He has not been here. 

Eleazar 

(Trader) 

[To Benjamin, as they turn away.'] The poor 
have great faith. Heard you the old man? 

Benjamin 

(Trader) 

It is their only treasure. What they cannot 
have now they dream they will have hereafter. 
[Pass of.-] 

[Other persons pass in and out. Some sheep 
are led to left across the Court at back.] 

First Servant 
We must hurry. The people are coming. 
[Enter Sala and Booz, traders.] 

Sala 
What did you bring? 

Booz 

Sheep. [More sheep are led to left across the 
Court at hack.] Those are mine. They have 
grazed till now on the plains of Sharon. They 
will bring a good price. 

Sala 
My oxen are not placed. [To the Temple 
servants.] Where is the overseer? 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 17 

Fourth Servant 

We have not seen him. 

[Re-enter Eleazar and Benjamin, traders.'] 

Sala 
Eleazar, where Is the overseer? 

Eleazar 
We cannot find him. 

Benjamin 
This is our great day for trade .... 

Booz 
Yet we are standing here waiting for Temple 
officers. 

Sala 
We pay the priests rent enough. 

Eleazar 

The cheap traders on the roads have been sell- 
ing for an hour. 

Booz 

Everything will soon be in disorder if the over- 
seer does not come. 

[Several more persons enter; some of whom 
approach the traders.] 

A Person 
I want to buy a sheep. Where are the sheep? 



i8 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Another Person 
I came early. I want the first choice. I do 
not want what the people leave. 

Another Person 
I do not see the oxen. Where are the oxen? 

Benjamin 
We cannot sell till the overseer comes. The 
tenders are now driving in the animals. Have 
patience. 

Another Person 
I want doves. Where are the dove sellers? 

Booz 
We do not know anything about dove sellers. 
We sell oxen and sheep. 

Another Person 
I have no Temple money. Where are the 
money changers? 

Benjamin 
We do not know. Go away! 
[Enter Jachin, overseer of the sacrifices.^ 

Fourth Servant 

[Calling to the traders.'] Here is the over- 
seer! 

[The traders, impatient, all trying to talk at 
the same time, confront Jachin.] 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 19 

Benjamin 
I have oxen. Give me a place. The people 
are clamoring. 

Sala 
I have oxen. 

Booz 
I have sheep. They are in the Court. 

Eleazar 

I have sheep. Quickly, Overseer, give me a 
place. 

Jachin 
\_Pushing them back.^ Patience, patience! 

A Person 
Where are the money changers? 

Another Person 

We cannot buy sacrifice for the Feast with 
heathen money. Everybody ought to know that. 
Where are the money changers to give us Temple 
money? 

Another Person 

I want doves. Where are the doves? 

Jachin 
It is early. Everybody be patient! 
[Tables are brought in for the money chan- 
gers.] 



20 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jachin 

They are bringing in the tables of the changers. 
[To the traders, '\ Come, I will give you places 
for your animals. [All hasten toward back.'] 

[More traders enter leading sheep across the 
Court at hack. Almost a continuous stream of 
persons is coming in and another going out. The 
Court is fairly crowded now. There is begin- 
ning to be confusion. Several dove sellers enter 
carrying wicker cages filled with doves. They 
take their stand on the left side of the Court, hack 
of the tables of the money changers, and begin 
to arrange their cages.] 

Dove Seller 
[To persons crowding around him.] Wait 
until I am ready. There will be enough for 
everybody. 

Another Dove Seller 
Wait until the money changers come. We 
cannot change heathen money, we are not allowed 
to. . . . 

Another Dove Seller 
Where are the money changers? 

Another Dove Seller 

The holy money will be here soon. I think 
the changers are coming. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 21 
Jachin 

(Overseer) 

[Shouting near the balustrade at back.'\ No 
more sheep this way! Bring them in with the 
oxen at the Cipunus Gate! I will not have any 
more sheep brought this way. 

[Several Phcenicians are seen at front near the 
dove sellers.^ 

First Phoenician 
The Jews are a noisy people. 

Second Phoenician 

They are more noisy than the Syrians at 
Hierapolis in the worship of their goddess. 

Third Phcenician 

You would think you were in the midst of a 
Damascus fair. 

Second Phcenician 
Why are they so impatient? 

Fourth Phcenician 

Each wants to buy first, in order to get the best 
animals for sacrifice. 

Second Phcenician 

What difference does it make if the animals are 
for sacrifice? 



22 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

First Phcenician 
They eat them afterwards. The rich buy oxen 
and sheep, the poor buy doves, and the very poor 
buy meal, for sacrifice. 

Second Phcenician 
Is their god a bloodthirsty god to require so 
much sacrifice? 

First Phcenician 
I do not know anything about their god. 

Second Phcenician 
Perhaps they are afraid of him, and are try- 
ing to appease him. 

First Phcenician 
I think they are trying to get him to do some- 
thing for them. 

Third Phoenician 

They are expecting great things of their god. 
But I think he must hunt a great deal and pay 
very little attention to them, for they are always 
crying out to him and giving him blood. 

First Phoenician 

They are expecting him to send a great general 
from the sky to conquer the world for them. 

Second Phcenician 
How foolish! 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 23 

\_Now and then the bleating of sheep and the 
lowing of oxen may he heard. Everybody is 
chattering and moving about or trafficking with 
the traders. The money changers enter carrying 
bags of money, which they place on the tables. 
The crowd gathers around them.^ 

KORA 

(Money Changer) 

Stand back ! Everybody will be served. 
D AT HAN 

(Money Changer) 

I am ready. . . . But not so fast! I cannot 
serve two persons at a time. 

A Person 
I have Tyrian and Grecian money. 

JUBAL 

(Money Changer) 

I can change the Grecian money. Dathan 
there will weigh the Tyrian. 

A Person 
You are charging me too much exchange. 

KORA 

(Money Changer) 

It is the regular rate. What do you expect? 



24 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

[^Scales in hand, balancing various coins. '\ 
Tyrian money is soft. It wears quickly. If it 
Is old it cannot be of full measure. This money 
is lacking in weight. Look at the scales. Do 
they balance? 

JUBAL 

(Money Changer) 

\_C ailing out.^ I can provide Tribute money. 
All who have not paid the half-shekel Temple 
Tribute! ... 

A Person 

You have not given me back enough money. 

JUBAL 

(Money Changer) 

We charge one-fourth denar on every half- 
shekel. 

The Person 

I cannot see why we should pay so much. 

JUBAL 

(Money Changer) 

The rate is correct. It is fixed by the Council. 
We pay rent for the privilege of changing in the 
Temple. Stand aside, others are waiting. 

A Youth 
Give me enough for three oxen. My father 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 25 

and uncles are waiting yonder near the cattle. I 
am in a hurry. 

KORA 

(Money Changer) 

[Giving him coin.l The exchange is less for 
large amounts. 

[Overseer Jachin, followed by traders, pushes 
through the crowd.^ 

Ezra 

(Trader) 

Last year my sheep stood here in this corner. 

Jachin 

You will stand your sheep on the north side. 
Look [pointing to the left^, many droves of sheep 
and oxen are already on this side. There must? 
be a passage left for the people. I will not have 
the people crowded. They must have room to 
inspect the lambs and oxen. 

Ezra 

(Trader) 

Come, show me where I shall stand on the 
north side. Shall I bring my sheep through here ? 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

Bring them in at the Cipunus Gate. Have 
your sheep been examined? 



26 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Ezra 

(Trader), 

Here are the certificates. 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

Show them to the keeper of the gate where 
you bring them in. 

[^They disappear in the crowd. Three priests 
emerge and place themselves behind the long table 
at right. Each opens a large book.^ 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

\^C ailing out above the noise.'] We will re- 
ceive the Temple Tribute! Those who have 
not paid! . . . The Temple Tribute! . . . The 
Temple Tribute ! . . . 

\_Many crowd around and pay, the priests re- 
cording their names.] 

A Gaulanite 

[To a dove seller.] This dove is poor. I 
want a fat one. 

Jacob 

(Dove Seller) 

It is as fat as any. 

The Gaulanite 
I will not have it. Let me see that one. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 27 
Jacob 

(Dove Seller) 

I will not take it out. This one is as good as 
any. They all have been well fed. 

The Gaulanite 
I will not take it. 

Jacob 

(Dove Seller) 

They are all alike. We sell them as we take 
them out of the cages, one after another. 

An Old Man 
I want five doves. 

A Dove Seller 
This is Syrian money. I cannot take it. 

Old Man 
Is it not good silver? 

Dove Seller 

I do not know. Have it changed at one of 
the changers' tables. I do not understand heathen 
moneys. 

Old Man 

They charge exchange. You understand Syrian 
money. It is the only piece of coin I have. 
Come, no one will see us. Or should anyone see 
us, you can call a changer and have it changed. 



28 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Dove Seller 
I will not take heathen money. Take it to one 
of the changers. There, Dathan is now idle a 
moment. 

Old Man 

[Walking away.'] How the servants of the 
house of the Lord have grown in greed ! 

Dove Seller 

[To old man.] Perhaps you have grown 
childish. 

\_Now and then a Pharisee pauses in a corner 
long enough to repeat his prayers; a few of the 
busy purchasers and heathen sightseers looking on 
a moment.] 

A Roman Soldier 

[^Walking with two other Roman soldiers.] 
Look. . . . Isn't that Terreno coming? 

Second Roman Soldier 
It is. 

Third Roman Soldier 
How long has he been captain of the guards? 

First Roman Soldier 
He was here when I came. 

Third Roman Soldier 
There is a woman with him. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 29 

First Roman Soldier 
She meets him here every year during the Feast. 

Second Roman Soldier 
She is beautiful. Who is she? . . . a Jewess? 

Third Roman Soldier 
Such hair does not grow on the head of a gen- 
tile. 

First Roman Soldier 
She is from Magdala. 

Second Roman Soldier 
Magdala? Where is that? 

First Roman Soldier 

I do not know. I only know that Terreno told 

Artius that her name was Mary and that she was 

from Magdala. Artius says that Terreno is not 

happy in his love, the Jewess has another lover. 

Second Roman Soldier 
They are coming this way, let us pass on. 
l^Now and then, when there is a momentary 
lull in the wrangling of the traders, the jingling of 
the coins, the jargon of the many languages and 
dialects, the lowing of the oxen and the bleating 
of the sheep, there may he heard, coming from 
the Inner Court, the long, low chants of the 
Levites and the prayers of the priests,^ 



30 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 

Have I spoken words that hurt you, Magda- 
lene? 

Mary 
Your words are full of fire, I fear the fire. 

Terreno 
It is wonderful to play with fire as you and I 
have played with it. 

Mary 
I will not think of pleasures that are gone. 

Terreno 
On yonder mountain you and I have watched 
the sun go down. . . . 

Mary 
And the moon rise up — No, no, I will not 
think of it! I will think only of my soul. 

Terreno 
In the shadow of the trees I held you close to 
me. I twined a wreath of olive blossoms for 
your head. I let down your hair. You looked 
like a barbarian princess in some far off wood. 

Mary 
Do not tempt me. I am still weak. I will not 
think of it. I will not think of pleasures that 
are gene. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 31 

Terreno 
We can live them all again, Magdalene. 

Mary 
Your thoughts are evil in the house of God. 

Terreno 
Look at these traders and money changers in 
the house of your God. They are like men in 
battle that strike with spears the faces of theii* 
enemies. Or they are like thieves that enter at 
night when the master of the house sleeps. 

Mary 
They are evil. They think of this world. 

Terreno 

On the mountain the almond blossoms are 
breaking into bloom, and the olive trees send out 
young leaves of tender green. Let us leave this 
place, and climb again our mountain of lost pleas- 
ures. Perhaps, Magdalene, we shall find them 
all again. 

Mary 

Find some other woman to hunt with you for 
lost pleasures. I now hunt eternal pleasures. 

Terreno 
Are you waiting for some other lover? 

Mary 
O, yes ! . . . some other lover. 



32 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 
Who is he that takes your love from me? In 
Rome men kill for the theft of love. I will not 
give you up. 

Mary 
His love is not like yours. 

Terreno 
Are his lips redder than mine with the thirst 
of desire? 

Mary 

Never have his lips touched mine. Nothing in 
the world is as pure as are his lips. 

Terreno 
Perhaps it is his hair. . . . Perhaps his hair 
is blacker than the wings of a bird in the night. 
Or is it waving gold, like moonlight quivering on 
a river? Have you trembled as you stroked his 
hair? 

Mary 
No woman's hand has stroked his hair. 

Terreno 
Or do his eyes tell you of some new joy in the 
woods when it is night? 

Mary 
They tell of joy in other worlds. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 33 

Terreno 
Other worlds! . . . Come, come, your talk is 
wild. . . . How can you give yourself to one who 
does not woo? 

Mary 
I would follow him through this world and 
through another. 

Terreno 
Perhaps if I, like your priests, should put on 
grand manners. . . . 

Mary 
He puts on none. 

Terreno 
Is he a Jew? 

Mary 

Every man is his brother. 

Terreno 
You are talking like a woman who has drunk 
too much wine. 

Mary 
I stagger with the wine of his spirit. 

Terreno 
Show him to me. 

Mary 
Wait here and you shall look on him. 



34 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 

O, I remember now that you once told me of 
a foolish prophet. 

Mary 
Do not mock him. Your eyes have not yet 
looked upon his face. ... I hear shouting be- 
low in the valley! It may be he. I am sure it is 
he. He is coming. 

Terreno 
There is so much noise here, how can you tell 
the sound is from the valley? 

Mary 

I am sure he is coming. Let us look into the 
valley. Come. . . . Come! [She goes toward 
the balustrade at back, Terreno following. They 
disappear in the crowd.~\ 

[A group of scribes comes forward, discussing.^ 

A Young Man 

Rabbi, is my wife permitted to bake bread on 
the Passover? 

Simeon 

(Scribe)i 

Not thick loaves. 

JUDAH 

( Scribe) i 

She may bake thick loaves if she likes. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 35 
Zera 

(Scribe), 

Granting that she may bake bread but not thick 
loaves, the question arises how thick may the 
loaves be without outraging the Holy Law. 

Simeon 
She may bake bread the thickness of one span. 

JUDAH 

I cannot see why you say " one span." 

Simeon 

I reason thus, the shew bread is one span. It 
is permissible to bake it on the Passover. There- 
fore your wife may bake common bread on the 
Passover if it is no thicker than a span. 

JUDAH 

Your reasoning is clear but wrong. What is 
there in common between shew bread and ordi- 
nary bread? The shew bread belongs to the 
priests; but common bread belongs to ordinary 
people. 

Saras 

And furthermore, in baking shew bread only 
dry wood is used, while in baking ordinary bread 
damp wood may be used. That, it seems to me, 
is the great difference between the two breads. 



36 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

JUDAH 

And still further, for shew bread an iron stove 
is used, while ordinary bread may be baked in 
an earthen oven. Therefore, Rabbi Simeon, I 
cannot see how you can compare the two breads. 
They have absolutely nothing to do with each 
other. 

Simeon 

I shall quote Rabbi Jose, who was Rabbi bar 
Alba's master, who was my master. Rabbi Jose 
says thick loaves may be baked. By thick loaves, 
he says, is meant large quantities of dough. 

Saras 
Can you not see. Rabbi Simeon, that. . . . 

The Young Man 

[Interrupting.^ Pardon, Rabbi, my wife is 
calling me, I cannot wait for the answer. 

[They continue discussing as they retire into 
the crowd. ^ 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

[To a group of persons arguing before his 
table. 1 This is no place for arguments. You 
are obstructing the passage to my table. Stand 
aside ! 

[The group, still arguing, moves to, the front.'} 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 37 
Meier 

(Pharisee) 

It is strange that I have never heard of him. 
I have heard of all the false prophets since the 
days of Herod. 

A Jerusalemite 
For my part I have no interest in new prophets. 

Second Jerusalemite 
Where is he from? 

Judas 

Nazareth. 

Third Jerusalemite 
Where is Nazareth? 

Judas 

In Galilee, on the Great Road that crosses the 
Jordan below the Sea of Galilee. 

A CESAREAN 

It is near where I live. I have been there. 
It is a dirty little town wherein are several pot- 
teries and a dyeworks. 

Second Jerusalemite 
How can a prophet come from such a place ? 

Judas 
Cannot the Lord raise up a prophet where he 
will? Many persons already believe in him, and 



38 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

the followers of John the Baptist have come to 
him. 

An Egyptian Jew 
John the Baptist — who is he? 

Judas 
He was a great prophet. 

First Jerusalemite 
I have never heard of him. 

Second Jerusalemite 
Nor I. Was he likewise a Nazarene? 

Judas 
He lived in the wilderness and fasted long and 
prayed much. Some said he was Elijah come a 
second time. 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

Was it not he that was put to death by the 
Tetrarch? 

Judas 

Herod slew him. He cut off his head. 

A Canaite 
It is horrible! 

Judas 
John taught the coming of Messias and the 
judgment of the people. He commanded the 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 39 

people to repent before it is too late. But the 
people did not pay any attention to him. Now 
Jesus of Nazareth has come. He is a greater 
prophet than John. 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

What does he prophesy? 

Judas 

He likewise prophesies the judgment of the 
Lord, that Daniel and Enoch told of, when the 
heavens and the earth will melt before the anger 
of the Lord, and the wicked be slain, and the . . . 

Second Jerusalemite 

[Interrupting.^ I have heard these prophecies 
since childhood'. My father before me heard 
them from his childhood. But the heavens con- 
tinue as they were, and the earth is not melted 
away. 

Judas 

You will believe when you have heard Jesus 
of Nazareth. 

First Jerusalemite 
Is that his name? 

Judas 
Yes. 



40 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Third Jerusalemite 
There are In the Temple this morning not fewer 
than a hundred men named Jesus. A prophet, 
I have always thought, should have a grand 
name. 

The Egyptian Jew 

Has he any followers? 

Judas 
Many in Cana, and by the Sea of Galilee, in 
Capernaum, Bethsaida, and other places, have be- 
lieved in him. 

The Egyptian Jew 
In Alexandria we do not have new prophets. 
We have a good many philosophers. But they 
are harmless. They do not stir up the people. 
They sit and think and do not say very much. 

First Jerusalemite 
The Galileans are simple-minded; they believe 
anyone. In Jerusalem we do not believe every 
person who says strange things. 

The Canaite 
I am from Galilee. I have heard Jesus of 
Nazareth teach. But I do not believe what he 
says. He thinks the end of the world is near, 
and that God very soon will send Messias. I 
think he believes he himself is Messias. But I 
have not heard him say so. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 41 
Meier 

(Pharisee) 

It is ridiculous. 

Judas 
Wait until you have heard him speak, and have 
seen him do wonderful things. 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

Has he done anything wonderful? 

Judas 

I will tell you one thing wonderful that he has 
done. It happened on the Sea of Galilee. He 
had been teacJiing until darkness came; then 
we .... 

Meier 
[Interrupting.] "We"? Whom do you 
mean? 

Judas 
His disciples. I am one of them. . . . Then 
we took a boat to pass to the other side. A storm 
arose. The waves beat upon our boat, as if eager 
to drag us into the sea. The wind moaned like 
the cries of dying men. We were afraid. We 
awoke him, for he was asleep in the stern of the 
boat. He stood up erect, and cursed the wind, 
and bade the sea be still. After a time the sea 
obeyed, and peace lay over the waters. When 



42 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

we saw these things, we looked upon him in fear. 
Of himself no man can command the sea. 

The Canaite 

I have heard this same thing told of Jesus of 
Nazareth. 

The Egyptian Jew 
No doubt the storm had spent itself. 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

Only Beelzebub can command the sea. 
\_Other persons join the group and stand listen- 
ing.'] 

Judas 

How can you understand till you have followed 
him as I have followed him? 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

You are young, and young men are always quick 
to believe new things. 

Judas 

He has healed the sick and driven devils from 
many persons. 

Second Jerusalemite 

They that practice magic can do the same. 
Does he heal all the sick that come to him? 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 43 

Judas 
Not all. Some do not have faith enough. He 
refuses to heal them if they do not have faith 
enough. Only a few days ago at Bethany he 
performed the greatest miracle that can be per- 
formed. 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

I have not heard of It. 

First Jerusalemite 
Nor L 

Second Jerusalemite 
I don't think anybody has heard of anything 
remarkable happening at Bethany. 

Judas 

He raised a man from the dead. 
[They all laugh, ^ 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

What was his name? 

Judas 
Lazarus. 

Second Jerusalemite 

Saw you this Lazarus who was raised from 
the dead? 



44 JESUS : A PASSION PLAY 

Judas 
I saw him afterward. 

Third Jerusalemite 
Saw you him when he was dead? 

Judas 

No, but everything was told me when I came 
later to Bethany. They told me Jesus stood be- 
fore the dead man's cave, and groaned within 
himself, and cried aloud, " Lazarus, come out," 
and he arose and came out. He that can raise 
the dead is more than a man. It may be he is 
Messias. 

[The crowd laughs again. ^ 

One in the Crowd 
You yourself are sick with a devil. 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

Did your prophet himself tell you this tale? 

Judas 
He did not tell me anything. 

The Egyptian Jew 
You need a physician. 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

You are young. Have care with what folly 
you fill your youthful days. I am a Pharisee. I 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 45 

believe the dead will arise. I am surer of it than 
anything in the world. But this fellow Jesus 
never raised anybody. 

Judas 

[Indignant.l Before the sun has gone down 
seven times, you shall all see the new judge on 
the throne of Israel. 

[Another outburst of laughter.'] 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

Bring your prophet to a trial of his power. 
Let us see if he is indeed Messias. 

[Loud, angry voices have risen at hack, near 
the oxen and sheep traders. The persons around 
Judas turn toward the noise, and disappear in 
the crowd.] 

A Young Man 
[To Judas, standing alone.] Do not again tell 
that story about Lazarus. Father Meier is right'. 
Jesus never raised anybody from the dead. 

Judas 
Do you know Jesus? 

The Young Man 
I am his brother. 

Judas 
You — his brother ! 



46 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

The Young Man 
Yes, I am Joses. It pained me to hear them 
laugh at you. 

Judas 
Do you know what things Jesus is teaching? 

Joses 
Only evil will come of them. 

Judas 
And your mother — what says she ? 

Joses 

Her heart breaks for him. A terrible thought 
has seized upon him. We think he believes he 
is the Son of Man told of by the prophet Daniel. 
When my mother and my brothers speak to him, 
his eyes look far off, and he moans within him- 
self, and says strange words. We never could 
understand very well what he was talking about. 

Judas 
Have you heard of his deeds of wonder? 
Surely no man of himself can drive out devils 
and heal the sick. 

Joses 

We have heard that he has performed miracles. 

But we have not seen him perform any. It has 

been told us that some of his followers say he is 

John the Baptist arisen from the dead, others that 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 47 

he is Elijah. But all the while we know he is 
only our brother. 

Judas 
When we were at Caesarea Philippi he was an- 
gered by the heathen and their many gods. Some 
say there are as many gods there as persons. It 
was there he told us that he also was a god, the 
son of the living God, Messias. 

JOSES 
\_Astonished.^ Said he that? 

Judas 
It was thus: we, being urged by Peter, called 
him Messias. He did not deny it. He seemed 
pleased. His anger disappeared. But he told 
us not to tell anyone, and he talked to us a long 
time — near the third watch of the night — about 
the kingdom. 

JOSES 

He has devils. He is lost. Can you not see 
that he has devils? . . . 

Judas 
Do not say that. 

JosES 
Tell him to come home with us after the Feast. 
There will be work for him. He was a good 
carpenter. It may be that work will drive out 



48 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

the devils. I have heard of such things. Our 
neighbors do not speak to us of him any more. 
They do not want to make us feel ashamed. 

[The crowd of quarreling men at hack pushes 
forward, drowning the voices of Judas and loses, 
and jostling them out of the way. There is con- 
fusion throughout.^ 

Joseph 

(Silversmith) 

[^Backing away.^ He struck me! I was lead- 
ing away my sheep. . . . 

Booz 

(Trader) 

[Being held hack hy several persons."] He is 
a thief, he tried to steal one of my sheep 1 Take 
your hands off me ! 

Benjamin 

(Trader). 

Thieves should be driven from the Temple ! 



Jacob 

(Dove Seller) 



Drive him out ! 



JosiAS 

(Priest) 

[Pushing into their midst.] Who is it that 
has dishonored the Temple by theft? 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 49 
Booz 

(Trader) 

There he stands! 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

Drive him out! 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

He should be taken to prison. I will call the 
guards. 

Several Voices 
No, no! . . . 

Joseph 

(Silversmith) 

I am no thief. I paid for the sheep. He 
urged me to pay a second time! 

A Jerusalemite 
I know this man, he is no thief. 

Another 

And I know him. He is a silversmith by the 
Upper Market on Zion. 

Several Others 
And I know him, and I ! . . . 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

Booz says he is a thief. [Calling aloudS\ 
Guards, guards ! 



50 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

{^Several Temple guards appear. The crowd 
grows larger.^ 

Nathan 

(Galilean) 

You dare not arrest him! 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

Who are you to tell me what I dare not do ? 

A Person 
We will appeal to the High Priest and the 
Council ! 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

Silence ! 

Several Persons 

Shame, shame! 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

Silence ! 

[Eleazar, trader, approaching Booz, whispers 
into his ear, also into the ear of Josias.l 

Joseph 

(Silversmith) 

There, . . . that man [pointing to Eleazar'\ 
was standing by when I paid him ! 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

Let the traders go back to their animals. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 51 

[The traders, pushing through the dense crowd 
standing around Joseph, return to their sheep and 
oxen.^ 

Joseph 

I paid for the sheep. 

A Person 
Where is your sheep? 

Joseph 
They took it from me. 

An Old Man 

The greed of the traders grows like poisonous 
weeds in a swamp. 

Nathan 

(Galilean) 

We from Galilee suffer very much from these 
lovers of money. We despise them. 

David 

(Damascene) 

Here in the house of God, where we have come 
from many places to worship, we see good men 
robbed and beaten. 

A Person 
A dove seller cursed me. 

A Jerusalemite 
A money changer struck me as one would a 
dog. The priests protect them. They pay the 



52 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

priests a lot of money for the privilege of rob- 
bing the people in the Temple. Persons living 
in Jerusalem know that is true. But they do 
not say anything. They are afraid to say any- 
thing. 

Zarah 

(Jerusalemite) 

In the time of our grandfathers all the buying 
and selling was done outside the Temple, beyond 
the Shushan Gate, where the small traders now 
sell. I have heard old men speak of it. 

David 

(Damascene) 

It should be done there still. 

Nathan 

(Galilean) 

We are cowards. If we had the blood of our 
fathers! . . . 

Zarah 

(Jerusalemite) 

[^Interrupting,^ Speak not so loud, lest you 
be overheard, and we who have taken the part 
of Joseph be driven from the Temple. I fear 
the traders. 

A Jerusalemite 

Others think as we do, but they are afraid to 
speak. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 53 
David 

(Damascene) 

Is there not one strong man left In Israel to 
lead the people against these that lust after silver 
and gold? 

Zarah 

(Jerusalemite) 

For months every year these traders look for- 
ward to this day of profit. I think they would 
kill anyone who opposed them. 

Joseph 

(Arimathean) 

[Joining the others.^ Friends, I have just 
now witnessed this endeavor to dishonor a good 
man. It cannot always be so. The people are 
patient. Perhaps the people are too patient. 

A Person 
Look! Something is happening on the road 
below the Temple. 

Another 
Persons are running to the balustrade. 

Another 

And waving their hands. See the woman 
standing beside the soldier, . . . how she is wav- 
ing her hands! Who is the soldier? 



54 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Zarah 

(Jerusalemite) 

He is the captain of the guards stationed yon- 
der in the Tower of Antonia. 

Another 
What are they calling out? There is so much 
noise here that I cannot understand what they 
are calling out. 

David 

(Damascene) 

Perhaps some one is amusing the people. But 
that should not be permitted on a day like this. 

l^The crowd that had gathered around Joseph 
disperses, some of them hastening toward the 
balus trade. ~\ 

David 

(Damascene) 

The people change as the wind changes. A 
moment ago they would have drawn swords 
against the traders. Now they are led away by 
a strange noise. Perhaps it is a magic-worker, 
or Roman soldiers beating some one. 

Joseph 

(Arimathean) 

It always has been so. The people waver. 
They are children. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 55 
Zarah 

(Jerusalemite) 

[To Joseph, the silversmith, who has returned 
from the balustrade.'] What is happening? 
What are they crying out? 

Joseph 

(Silversmith) 

I think it is a procession of admiring persons 
following their teacher. He is riding on an ass. 
They are calling out something like " Rejoice, O 
daughter of Jerusalem! . . . The king will en- 
ter." They are strewing the ground with long 
grass which they have gathered from the road- 
side. Perhaps he is a prophet. But I think they 
are calling him a king. 

Zarah 

(Jerusalemite) 

He is likely only another fool who thinks him- 
self a prophet. Many such come to Jerusalem 
every year. . . . Are many persons following 
him? 

Joseph 

(Silversmith) 

Not many. They look like country people. 
Their faces are sun-beaten, and their feet are cov- 
ered with dust. 



56 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

David 

(Damascene) 

Listen ! Do you not understand what they are 
saying? They are crying out some words of 
the prophet Zechariah, " Rejoice. . . . O daugh- 
ter of Zion! . . . your king is coming to you. 
. . . He is just, . . . lowly, . . . and rides on 
an ass." That is at least part of what they are 
crying out. 

Nathan 

(Galilean) 

I cannot hear that. I only hear shouts as of 
praise, and I hear singing. Do you not hear 
singing ? 

Zarah 

(Jerusalemite) 

I do not call that noise singing. It is dread- 
ful. I think they are weeping. 

\_The noise of the procession, which slowly dies 
away, has hut slightly interfered with the trading 
and confusion in the Court. The bartering and 
wrangling continue everywhere as before. The 
people move away from the balustrade. Mary 
and Terr en o appear at front, near David, the 
Damascene, and others.^ 

Mary 

O, he is coming I He is coming to the gate to 
enter. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 57 

Terreno 
I have seen your lover, Magdalene. Is he not 
your lover? 

Mary 
He is enamored of my soul. 

Terreno 
Is there then no hope for me? 

Mary 
There is hope. 

Terreno 
That we may live again our lost pleasures? 

Mary 

That we may love as he would have us love. 

Terreno 
Shall he judge when I shall touch your lips, 
when I shall hold you close to me, when I shall 
sit with you in the moonlight? 

Mary 

Will you hear him when he speaks ? 

Terreno 
I will not hear him. What words of this fool- 
ish Galilean. . . . 

Mary 
[Interrupting.'] I will not listen to you. 



58 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 

Heard you some of them that followed him 
cry out and call him " king "? 

Mary 
I heard. 

Terreno 

Pilate will not disturb religious madness; but 
rebellion against Rome is punished by death. 
Caesar and the ragged ass-riding prophet of Gali- 
lee cannot both be king. 

Mary 

I do not understand anything about Pilate and 
Caesar. 

Terreno 
Have you been told the story of Judas the 
Gaulanite ? 

Mary 
I have been told. 

Terreno 
He stood against Rome. . . . 

Mary 

And was crucified. 

Terreno 

If your Galilean lover proclaims himself king 
here in the Temple, I will call the guards. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 59 

Mary 

The guards will be helpless If he lift his hand. 

Terreno 
I will chain him In the Tower. 

Mary 

The Tower cannot hold him. 

Terreno 

Your talk Is foolish. 

[Another outburst of shouts outside the Tem- 
ple.] 

Mary 

He is coming! Hear, all the people are 
praising him! 

[Terreno pushes into the cromd and disap- 
pears. Above the noise in the Temple, more or 
less continuous cries of praise are heard coming 
from the right and back. There is a lull in the 
trading. Booz hastens to the tribute table. ~\ 

Booz 

(Trader) 

[Indignant.] They are coming In. Must we 
listen to this noise here In the Court? 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

It Is against the law. 



6o JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

KORA 

(Money Changer) 

These people buy nothing, neither do they 
change any money. They have no money. They 
are dusty and ragged. Look at them. 

Booz 

(Trader) 

Jachin shall call the guards. 

[Men, women and children, singing and shout- 
ing praises, push into the already crowded Court. 
The trading ceases, and there is great confusion.^ 

Several Voices 

Mere is he that shall bring back the kingdom 
of our fathers! . . . He is here in the name of 
the Lord! . . . The kingdom of David is com- 
ing again! 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

Silence, blasphemers! 

Several Voices 
[Chanting.'] Blessed is he that comes in the 
name of the Lord ! 

Kora 

(Money Changer) 

[Shouting.] You have stopped all buying and 
selling! Out into the street, you beggars! 

[Traders, money changers, and priests, crying 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 6i 

*' Silence! Silence! '' try to break into the crowd, 
which has formed a dense circle at hack, and from 
which joyful cries continually arise. ^ 

Several Voices 
{^Chanting.'] Praised is the kingdom of our 
father David that is about to come! 
[^Cheers more or less continuous. ~\ 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

[Approaching with several Temple guards 
armed with clubs. In a loud voice. ~\ In the 
name of the Law, I command you to be silent in 
the Temple! 

Several Voices 

\_Chanting.'] Daughter of ZIon, now behold 
the king has come to you ! 

Booz 

(Trader) 

[To Jachin.'] Command the guards to beat 
them back ! 

Sala 

(Trader) 

[To Jachin.] Order the guards to strike! 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

[Mounting a money changer's table.] Dis- 
perse, disperse, profaners of the Temple! Go 
out into the streets! 



62 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

Command the guards to seize him that stands 
in the center! 

[/« the center of the crowd some one is speak- 
ing, hut there is so much noise that his words 
cannot he understood.^ 

Simeon 

(Scribe) I 

Jachin, command the guards to break iiito the 
crowd ! 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

Drive away the people ! We will take the 
leader! 

Eleazar 

(Trader) 

[Rushing in from left, followed by several cat- 
tle and sheep tender s.^^ Who is the leader? 

Judas 
{^Standing near him.^ He is Jesus of Naza- 
reth. He is a great prophet. 

Eleazar 

(Trader)- 

He is in the hands of a devil! \_To the cattle 
and sheep tenders.^ Tear away the people. 
We will take hold of the leader. He is stand- 
ing in the center of them. 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 63 

[The tenders and guards attack the people, 
striking several of them. A brief scuffle ensues. 
The crowd opens in front, violently pushing hack 
the tenders and guards. In the center stands 
Jesus, surrounded by Peter, John, Philip, Thomas, 
Matthew, and other disciples and followers. 
Jesus is speaking, hut in the noise and confusion 
what he is saying ca?inot be understood. More 
persons are running into the Court from every 
direction.^ 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

[Pushing his way toward Jesus and the dis- 
ciples.~\ I will take him! Forward, guards, 
seize him! Which is he? 

[Jachin is knocked down by Peter, and the 
guards do not advance. Peter is seized by sev- 
eral persons, who in turn are attacked by James, 
John, and other disciples. ~\ 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

[Standing on the tribute table. ~\ Madman, 
stand forth! The curse of Abraham fall upon 
you ! 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

At least tell us why you have broken in upon 
us in this way. 



64 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jachin 

[Recoverin^.l Come forward, else I will 
command the people to seize you I They have 
seen you defile the house of God! 

[^There is a moment's suspense, some in the 
crowd shifting menacingly about Jesus.^ 

Jesus 
\_Pushes forward into an opening in the crowd. 
He is tall, powerful, hut pale and worn. His 
words are continually broken into.~\ You have 
turned this house of prayer into a den of rob- 
bers. ... 

Eleazar 

(Trader). 

Do you dare to call us robbers? 

Jesus 
You steal like thieves that enter when it is 
dark. . . . 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

Madman, madman, leave the Temple ! 

Jesus 

You beat the lowly with your fists. From the 
poor you take the last farthing. . . ♦ 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

You are trying to deceive the people, 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 65 
KORA 

(Money Changer) 

You are a magic-worker. 

Booz 

(Trader) 

[To the people. '\ Do not listen to him. He 
hath devils. He is a lunatic. -. . . 
[Confusion of cheers and hisses.'\ 

Several Persons 

[Simultaneously .^^ Speak, Galilean. . . . You 
are speaking the truth. . . . The people want to 
hear the truth. . . . The traders do not want to 
hear it I 

Jesus 
Woe to them who make profit out of holy 
things ! In the last days the sun shall hide away, 
the stars flee in terror, and the moon be red with 
blood! They that desecrate this house shall 
tremble in dark places. They shall be afraid I . . . 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

Silence, we will not listen to you any longer I 

John 

(Disciple) 

O, it will be terrible for the traders and 
changers in the last days I 



66 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

David 

(Damascene) 

We will hear him. He is a man of the people ! 

Several Persons 

\_Simultaneously.l^ Hear him! . . . Hear him! 
. . . Let him speak! 

JACHIN- 

(Overseer) 

Silence, silence! [To Jesus.^ Blasphemer! 
. . . [His voice is drowned in hisses and jeers.^ 

Peter 
[Pulling away from them who had seized him, 
and lifting his hands to quiet the people. ~\ He 
will speak again. Listen ! 

Jesus 
Within this house of prayer there are thieves 
walking in the cloaks of holy men. There are 
vipers that have learned to speak. They stand 
erect like men. They are evil. Woe to you 
that take bread from the mouths of the poor and 
clothe yourselves in fine linens! . . . [Cheers."] 

Benjamin 

(Trader) 

[To Jachin.'] Must we listen to these ac- 
cursed lies? 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 67 
Sala 

(Trader) 

[To Jachin.l Bid him go out upon the 
street. Something dreadful will happen here. 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

Madman, your body is burning with devils. 
Leave the Temple! . . . 

Jesus 
I will not till all has been spoken, that you 
may know the day of judgment is near. 

Several of the Disciples 
[Simultaneously. ~\ He speaks the truth. . . . 
The judgment is near. . . . Yes, yes, it is near, 
. . . it is very near! 

Saras 

(Scribe), 

I have been told you are a Galilean. ... 
[The crowd jeers, Jesus raises his hands and 
they quiet a little.^ 

Saras 

(Scribe). 

Have you heard of the Galileans whose blood 
Pilate mingled with the blood of their sacrifices? 
He slew them even yonder by the altar. Are 
you not afraid to cause this disturbance in the 
Temple ? 



68 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jesus 

I have heard of it. But these Galileans that 
Pilate killed were not more sinful than others. I 
say to you that unless you yourself repent you 
shall surely die. The days of the evil are num- 
bered. They are like the grass in the au- 
tumn. ... 

Benjamin 

(Trader) 

You, Galilean, surely know that our trading 
here is in accordance with the Law, and is au- 
thorized by the Council I 

[The crowd hisses.l 

Jesus 
Woe to you traders and money changers that 
are rich! You have received your rewards. 
Woe to you that are full! You shall hunger. 
And you that laugh now, you shall mourn and 
weep ! In the Temple I hear the grinding of a 
scythe. . . . 

Saras 

(Scribe) 

Are you trying to tell us that we shall die soon ? 
Is that what you are trying to tell us ? 

Jesus 
This generation shall not pass till the heavens 
be shaken, and the Son of Man appear. His 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 69 

face shall shine like the dawn. His raiment shall 
be like the gold of the sun. He shall judge the 
world. Have you not read the prophets? . . . 

Saras 

(Scribe). 

Do you ask us who are scribes if we have read 
the prophets ! 

Jesus 

You and your households shall know the fam- 
ine and pestilence of the last days. You shall 
understand the fear of the sword. The wrath 
of God will destroy the wicked. It will cast them 
into darkness. . . . 

JOSIAS 
(Priest) 

Madman of Galilee, you have a serpent's 
tongue. It is poisonous. [The people hiss,'] 

Booz 

(Trader) 

What — do you hiss a priest! 

Jesus 
O, repent before that hour, the hour of the 
anguish of fire and the sting of the sword! In 
the Temple I hear the singing of a scythe. It 
is the reaper of death. He is mowing. 

Simeon 

(Scribe). 

Tell us by what authority. . . . 



70 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Several Persons 
[Amid hisses.'\ We will hear the Galilean! 
. . . Away with the traders ! . . . Away with the 
money changer! 

Jesus 
[^Raising his hand.~\ Let him speak. 

Simeon 

By what authority do you come into the Tem- 
ple and overthrow the Law and turn away the 
hearts of the people? 

Jesus 
Tear down this Temple, and in three days I 
will build a Temple not made by hands. 

Simeon 

Forty-six years was this Temple in building, 
and you will rebuild it in three days ? 

Jesus 

There shall be a new Temple and a new 
Jerusalem. But you cannot understand that. 
There be men standing here who shall not taste 
of death till they have seen them. 

Terreno 

[Away from the crowd, to Judah.'] Is he 
claiming to be a king? 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 71 

JUDAH 

(Scribe). 

He is claiming to be a god. 
\_Jachin is gathering together the guards and 
tenders.^ 

Booz 

(Trader) 

[Mounting a table of the money changers S\ 
Listen to me, all you people ! This man is mad ! 
He hath devils. \^The people hiss.^ Do you 
not see that by tricks of speech and a loud voice 
he is leading you away? The curse of Moses 
be upon him! [^The crowd jeers, drowning his 
voice.^ I will be heard! . . . [^The jeering con- 
tinues. 1 

[Four men carrying large vessels are pushing 
their way through the Court, They are buffeted 
right and left by the people. J 

JasiAS 

(Priest) 

[At the top of his voice.'] Is it right that you 
abuse these vessel carriers? They are on their 
way to the Temple slaughtering house. 

Jesus 

It is terrible to defile this Court with bloody 
vessels. It is terrible to defile it with trade ! 
[The guards and tenders endeavor to defend 



72 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

the vessel carriers from the buffets of the crowd. 
A hand to hand fight ensues^ during which the 
vessels are taken from the carriers and thrown 
over the balustrade.^ 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

Man of Galilee, restrain your followers! 

Jesus 
Out with you, thieves and robbers! 

David 

(Damascene) 

[Amid the shouts of the crowd.~\ We have 
found a leader! . . . 

Nathan 

(Galilean) 

We will follow him! ... 

Many Voices 

[Simultaneously.'] We will follow him! . . . 
Out with the traders ! . . . Out with the slaugh- 
tering vessels ! . . . 

Sala 

(Trader) 

Prophet, hold back the people! 

Jesus 
I will not ! 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 73 

KORA 

(Money Changer) 

Hold back the people, else are the stones al- 
ready chosen that shall bruise your flesh! 

Jesus 
Let the fox prowl upon the road, and the ser- 
pent in the grass. This Temple is for the chil- 
dren of the Lord ! 

Peter 
This money changer [pointing at Kora\ should 
be driven out! 

. James 

(Disciple) 

Let us drive him out! 

Many Voices 

Out with Kora ! Out with the money 
changers! ... 

[^There is great confusion and noise, pushing 
and pulling, and many blows are struck. David 
the Damascene, Nathan the Galilean, and others 
on the right; Peter, James, John, and the other 
disciples and followers of Jesus on the left; and 
Jesus in the center, advance, leading the people 
to left against the traders, money changers, 
guards, and tenders.^ 



74 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jacob 

(Dove Seller) 

But don't you understand that these things are 
for the sacrifice? . . . 

Jesus 

Away with you ! 

\^The other dove sellers run out of the Court, 
their doves flying in all directions through the 
Temple. The tables of the money changers are 
overturned; and what coins they had not time to 
gather into hags, fall and roll over the floor, ~\ 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

Back, back, I say! . . . your hands off me, till 
I have gathered my money ! 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

Let the changers gather their coins! . . . 

KORA 

(Money Cbanger) 

My money, my money! . . . Only let me 
gather my money, and I will go out ! 

JOSES 

(Jesus' Brother) 

[Rushing up to Jesus.'] O brother, run away, 
run away ! They will stone thee ! 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 75 

Jesus 
[Pushing him aside. ~\ Disturb me not now! 

JOSES 

Do you not know me ? I am your brother. I 
am Joses. 

Jesus 

All these are my brothers! [Pressing for- 
ward in front of the people and shouting, above 
the noise and tumult.'] We will give back this 
house to God ! It is written, " My house shall 
be called a house of prayer for all the people ! " 
But you have made it a den of thieves ! Away 
with you, deceivers of the people and betrayers 
of God! Neither gold nor silver nor fine linen 
will save you ! The publicans and harlots go 
into the kingdom of God before you! You do 
not believe that the day of repentance is here. 
The publicans and harlots believe ! Out with 
you! Thieves and robbers! . . . 

[The crowd advances to left, pushing hack the 
guards, tenders, traders, and money changers, who 
all the while utter cries of protestation. The 
pursuit continues until nearly all persons have 
passed off. The noise of many running oxen and 
the bleating of many frightened sheep mingle with 
the cries of the people.] 



76 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

A Person 
{^Standing on a money changer* s table and look- 
ing over the heads of the departing crowd.^ 
They are driving out the cattle! Some stricken 
with fear are running over the bridge! 

Another Person 
The sheep are running into the valley ! An ox 
has plunged over the bridge into the valley! . . . 
another and another ! It is terrible ! 

Another Person 
They are throwing the bags of salt over the 
bridge and pouring out the oil! It is terrible! 
They will kill the traders ! O, it is terrible ! . . . 

Another Person 
Let us destroy the tables of the money changers ! 

Another 

Let us throw them out of the Temple. [They 
carry the tables to the balustrade, drop them into 
the road below, and hasten of[.'\ 

\_At right enters Caiaphas, High Priest, fol- 
lowed by priests, Pharisees, scribes, and guards, 
all in a state of great excitement. ~\ 

Amiel 

(Priest) 

Let the guards go around the Temple in oppo- 
site directions, and take him — if not alive, then 
dead! 



THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE 77 
Levi 

(Priest) 

That is folly. 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

The people will flee before the guards. Let 
us send them to take him. 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

He cannot be taken now. The people are led 
away. In their madness they would die for him. 

Amiel 

(Priest) 

Are we to see this blasphemer overthrow the 
authority of the Temple, and are we to do noth- 
ing? 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

Let their madness spend itself. We dare not 
touch him now unless he enter the Inner Temple. 

Levi 

(Priest) 

Shall we not send guards to watch at the inner 
gates ? 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

Let them go at once and stand upon the ut- 
most 3tep of the Chel by the Flaming and Offer- 



78 JESUS: A PASSION. PLAY 

Ing Gates. If he seek to enter, he must be taken, 
even if it cost a hundred lives. To-morrow — 
come close. [^They gather close around him.~\ 
To-morrow no doubt he will come again. To- 
morrow we shall confound him, confuse him by 
many questions, make him ridiculous in the eyes 
of the people. What can he know of the Law? 
When once the people have laughed at him, you 
can take him as easily as a gardener plucks a weed 
from his garden, or as a slaughterer takes a 
sheep. We shall have a meeting of the Council 
at once. Come! ... 
[All hasten off.] 

CURTAIN. 



ACT II 
DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 



PERSONS IN ACT II 



Jesus 

Mary, a Magdalene 
Meier, a Pharisee 
Hannan, a Herodian 
Joseph, an Arlmathean 
Terreno, Captain of the 

Roman Guards 
Jachin, an Overseer of 

the Temple 
Nathan, a Galilean 
Zarah, a Jerusalemite 
David, a Damascene 
Judas, 
Peter, >-Disciples of Jesus 
John, 



ers 






Scribes 



JUBAL, J 
JUDAH, 

Simeon, 

Zera, 

Saras, 

Sholem, 

Levi, 

Darphas, 

Jose, 

Amiel, 

Benjamin, 

Booz, 

Eleazar, 

Sala, 

Ezra, 

Jacob, 



Priests 



-Traders 



Temple guards and others. 



ACT II 

The scene is the same as Act I. The follow- 
ing morning. 

[At hack Temple servants are cleaning, Booz 
enters, followed hy Eleazar and Benjamin.'] 

Booz 

(Trader) 

Sala and Ezra are going through the roads and 
through the Temple. They are gathering the 
traders and changers. They will bring them here. 

Benjamin 
Let us not stir up the people to-day. I am 
bruised and I ache. 

Booz 
We shall be men to-day. [^Takes a short 
sword from under his cloak.] 

Eleazar 

Have care, Booz; we are but a handful. The 
people are many. 

Booz 

When the changers and the other traders come, 
we shall determine what is to be done. . . . All 

8i 



82 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

night long his face disturbed my sleep. Is there 
not something the matter with his face ? 

Eleazar 
His face is like wax that candles are made of. 

Booz 

His face is white like the face of a man who is 
chaste. 

Eleazar 

I have heard he has wives and maiden slaves 
in Galilee. I think he has the face of a man 
who has many women. 

Booz 
He has the face of a man who is chaste. 

Benjamin 
He looks like an Essene. They have nothing 
to do with women. 

Eleazar 

I wager he hath loosened the girdle of many 
maidens. 

Booz 

No, I am sure he is chaste. He hath the mad- 
ness of a man who is chaste. 

Benjamin 

His voice was horrible. I never had heard a 
voice so horrible. 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 83 

Booz 

His voice was soft, such a voice as weak men 
obey. 

Benjamin 

No, his voice was not soft. 

Booz 
The priests and Levites in the Inner Temple 
say they did not hear his voice. They did not 
even know that there was any disturbance. . . . 
But his face was like one ready for the tomb. It 
was terrible ! 

Eleazar 

It frightened me even to look upon his face. 
[Enter Sala, Ezra, Jacob, Kora, Juhal, Dathan, 
and several other traders and money changers.^ 

Sala 

(Trader), 

We could not persuade any others to come. 
Many traders are themselves taking care of their 
sheep and oxen. Their tenders and helpers ran 
away in fear and have not returned. 

Ezra 

(Trader) 

We met Jachin by the Cipunus Gate. He told 
us that no sheep and oxen may be brought into 
the Temple until permission has come from the 
Council. 



84 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

The blood of Israel has turned to water! 
Even the Council obeys the madman who scat- 
tered my silver over the floor. 

KORA 

(Money Changer) 

Let two watch at yonder passages, that none 
of the people come upon us suddenly and hear 
what we are saying. 

[Two go back and loiter near the balustrade J\ 

Booz 

First, we will demand payment of our losses 
from the Temple treasury. 

Several Others 
We will. . . . We will demand payment. 

Booz 
Let every one hide a short sword beneath his 
cloak. Including our helpers we can count a hun- 
dred men. When once he lies bleeding on the 
floor, we will quiet any dispute by a hundred 
lifted swords. Are we agreed? \^A pause.^ 
You are silent. [Another pause.^ I do not 
hear you say anything. Have you never noticed 
the glint of the sun on polished silver? Light- 
ning is not as terrible as the glitter of a hundred 
suddenly lifted swords. 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 85 

Benjamin 
Strike him down here in the Temple ! 

Booz 

Pilate set the example. He stained even yon- 
der altar floor with human blood. 

Jacob 

(Trader) 

But the Sanhedrin and the High Priest? . . . 

Booz 

Both would be happy. Even now they are 
trembling. They are afraid the Galilean will win 
over still more of the people. The Council prob- 
ably sits this very hour, each member, like some 
old woman, frowning, threatening, and scolding. 
But words — words will neither subdue a mad- 
man nor instruct a fool. 

Sala 

They by the balustrade are waving. Some one 
is coming. 

JUBAL 

(Money Changer) 

I agree with Booz. A little courage will re- 
store the honor of the Temple, and moreover it 
will please the Sanhedrin. . . . 

Booz 
Wait, till we see who is coming. 



86 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

\^Enter priests, scribes and Pharisees, They 
come forward.^ 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

[Addressing them,'] Priests and Scribes, it is 
always good for us to see you. You are wise. 
But swords and spears are more needed here than 
wisdom and words. 

JUBAL 

We have been outraged, beaten, and our money 
taken. 

Sholem 

(An Old Priest) 

We have heard. 

Benjamin 

Seven oxen lie dead in the valley. Two of 
them are mine. 

Booz 

Eleven of my sheep, and many belonging to 
others, are gone. Mine were costly sheep. They 
had grazed on the plains of Sharon. 

Jacob 

The doves of the traders have returned to the 
open air. 

Booz 

We will demand payment of our losses from 
the Temple treasury. 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 87 
Levi 

(Priest) 

Your claims are just, but we have no authority. 
Darphas 

(Priest) 

The Council will surely pay them. 

Booz 

Gold and silver can not take away our dis- 
honor. By the God of Abraham, with a sword I 
had fought my way through! . . . 

KORA 

(Money Changer) 

And I. . . . Was the High Priest asleep while 
blasphemers ruled the Temple? 

Sholem 

(An Old Priest) 

Peace, young men. . . . 

Booz 
We are speaking that you may know our minds. 
You doctors of the Law saw Moses and the 
prophets overturned, and you did not lift a hand! 

Sholem 
Peace, peace. . . . 

Benjamin 
Where were the Temple guards? Jachin 
could find only seven. 



88 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Booz 
Is Jerusalem to be ruled by Nazareth ? Is the 
fly to master the lion? Where is the blood of 
our fathers? Shall we look henceforth to Caia- 
phas or to Jesus? 

JUDAH 

(Scribe) 

You are angered. You are saying foolish 
things. 

Booz 

I will speak that you may return and tell the 
Council the thoughts that burn in us. What need 
have we any longer of you scribes to teach us 
and our children the Law and traditions of our 
fathers? We have Jesus now. Ask the Coun- 
cil if we shall obey Moses or Jesus? And if they 
say Moses, then we demand protection in the 
Temple. Say that to the Council. 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

Last evening my sons mingled with the crowd 
upon the streets. They heard the name of their 
father cursed as if he had committed a crime 
against God. 

JuBAL 

(Money Changer) 

Do we not pay more silver into the treasury 
than the rabble? 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 89 
Meier 

(Pharisee) 

The Council Is now sitting. Guards are watch- 
ing from the Porch on every side of the Temple. 
We will know when he enters. We shall be pre- 
pared. The Council will send a report to us. It 
will tell us what is to be done. 

Booz 

The Galilean is not to be beaten by a report. 
It would be better if we had swords. He may 
have many followers again if he comes to the 
Temple to-day. He may have more followers 
than yesterday. 

Meier 

Think a moment, trader. If we arm against 
the people, will they not arm against us? God 
forbid! We do not want war. Caesar is eager 
to tighten his grasp upon us. Pilate sits like a 
spider in the center of his web. The heathen all 
around us are watching like animals that are hun- 
gry. 

Booz 

We will arm ourselves. We can count more 
than a hundred men. 

Levi 

(Priest) 

To arm against him now is to arm against the 
people. That would be very foolish. 



90 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Meier 
Ridicule is better than a sword. This Galilean 
is ignorant of the Law and the prophets. Per- 
haps the Council will tell us to make the people 
laugh at him. We have talked with Caiaphas. 
He is explaining it to the Council. 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

I have a ridiculous question about the resur- 
rection of the dead which I shall ask him. . . . 

Meier 

\_Interruptin^.~\ I am a Pharisee. I believe 
the dead will arise. 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

It is foolish. The dead will never arise. 

Meier 
Yes, I am sure the dead will arise. 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

Perhaps some Herodian will lead him into a 
speech against Rome. We have sent for the 
Roman captain, that he may hear him should he 
pronounce doctrines hateful to Caesar. 

JUDAH 

(Scribe) 

It even has been told us that he may try to 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 91 

make the people believe he Is Messias, at least 
that he may Intimate he is Messias. 

Levi 

(Scribe) 

We could not desire anything better than that. 

JUDAH 

(Scribe) 

He himself will make the people laugh at him. 
It would be foolish enough If he claimed to be a 
prophet risen from the dead; but to try to tell 
people he Is Messias — is it not laughable? You 
do not need any swords. The people are un- 
learned, but they are wise in such matters. Give 
them time, they will find out a fool. 

D AT HAN 

(Money Changer) 

I think that the traders should drive back their 
animals into the Temple, and that we should 
bring back our tables and change money as before. 

Levi 

(Scribe). 

It would not be wise. 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

He may not return to-day. Perhaps he is 
afraid to return to-day. 



92 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

He will return. He is like a man who has 
drunk much wine. 

Sala 

(Trader), 

This is our last day for profit. On the streets 
competition is terrible. 

Ezra 

(Trader) 

The cheap traders on the streets sell at any 
price. Their animals are not as good as ours. 
We will lose money if we are not permitted to 
bring our sheep and oxen back into the Temple. 

Booz 

(Trader), 

These men are right. We should drive back 
the animals and sell as before. But we should be 
armed with short swords hidden under our cloaks 
— we and all our helpers. The arguments of 
polished silver are stronger than the arguments of 
polished words. 

\_Several persons enter at back.l 

Levi 

(Priest) 

These come from the Council to instruct us. 
Come, Judah, Meier, Sholem. . . . 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 93 

[The priests, scribes, and Pharisees retire to 
the rear and continue in conference with persons 
just entered; among them is Joseph the Art- 
mathean, who after listening a few moments, 
walks away.^ 

Booz 

[To the other traders and changers."} We 
must hasten. Before long the people will be com- 
ing. You that are unarmed go home and arm 
yourselves. Arm your helpers and tenders. No 
one can tell what will happen here. There may 
be a way open for us to reach him. The Council 
cannot instruct us to do the thing, but it will thank 
us after it is done. Let the Council use words. 
Our arguments, harder and sharper than words, 
will be hidden under our cloaks. 

Dathan 
I need not go home, I am armed. 

JUBAL 

AndL 

Benjamin 
And I and my tenders. 

Eleazar 
I also and mine. 

All Except Jacob and Ezra 
And I and I. . . . 

[Jacob and Ezra start Ojjf.] 



94 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Booz 

Wait. A word before Jacob and Ezra go. 
Should there come to us a chance to strike him 
down, let us not do as the Romans did in the time 
of our forefathers. I have heard it said that 
when they struck down the great Cassar, they were 
so eager and so frightened that some of their ill- 
directed thrusts fell upon each other. 

[Jacob and Ezra go of at right. ^ 

Sala 
I hate Rome as much as any of you ; yet I think 
it absurd to compare Caesar with a dirty Galilean. 
It was Julius Caesar whom they killed — was it 
not? 

KORA 

Do you hear some one singing in the valley? 
[They listen.'] 

Dathan 
I do not hear anything. 

Booz 

Some one go quickly to the bridge and look into 
the valley. We must know when the people 
come. I shall go to the balustrade. 

[Sala hastens out at left and Booz retires to 
hack.] 

Dathan 

I shall change money when the people come. 
Look. [He produces, from under his cloak, a 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 95 

large purse, fastened over his shoulder, ~\ The 
other changers will do the same. If we change 
money here, you traders can gather patrons here. 
Bring your animals as near the gate as possible. 

\_Booz returns from back, followed immedi- 
ately by Levi; and presently by others, priests, 
scribes and Pharisees.^ 

Booz 
I could not see a crowd anywhere. Many per- 
sons in small groups are coming toward the Tem- 
ple. But they are not making any noise. 

Levi 

(Priest) 

We are prepared. Let the Galilean come. 
\^All gather round him,~\ We ask, in the name of 
the Council of the Sanhedrin, that none to-day 
arouse the people, or say aught to arouse this 
Jesus and his disciples. Furthermore, your losses 
the Council has chosen to allow. 

Booz 

The Council has judged it wise to bow before 
the Galilean rebel! God of Abraham! . . . 

JUDAH 

(Scribe) 

Look upon us, traders and changers. Are we 
children? Long and patient years have we 
studied the Law and the prophets. The San- 



96 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

hedrln has chosen us, of all others, to confound 
him who yesterday defamed this house of God. 
We shall lead him by the nose before all the peo- 
ple. Moreover, we shall make him Caesar's 
prisoner. 

\_A few persons enter at hack.'] 

Levi 

Let us not stand here together, lest suspicion 
arise. 

\^More persons enter, among them Judas. 
From now on there is an ever increasing stream 
coming and going. Here and there the changers 
may he seen quietly changing money from the 
purses carried under their cloaks; and the traders 
likewise quietly talking to prospective purchasers, 
leading some to left, toward where the animals 
now stand, outside the Temple, heyond the Shu- 
shan Gate. The Court is more orderly and 
quieter than the day hefore.~\ 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

[Calling.] Iscariot, Iscariot! 
[Judas comes to Meier.] 

Meier 
Will your master come to the Temple to-day? 

Judas 
Last night, in the shadow of the trees, he 
prayed long to his Father. 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 97 

Meier 
What did he pray? 

Judas 

That his Father might give him strength still 
to fight with the evil in the Temple. Therefore, 
I think he will come again to-day. 

Meier 
Did he pray anything else? 

Judas 

He prayed a long time that his Father hasten 
the hour of judgment, lest the seeds of wickedness 
poison all Israel. I never have heard such sobs 
in the night. We came to him. He sent us 
away, and bade us not disturb him. I could not 
sleep, and I arose while it was yet dark, and came 
alone into the city. 

Meier 

Was he not a tentmaker or a builder, as his 
father before him? Some say he was a sandal- 
maker, others that he was a cameldriver. What 
was his father's name? 

Judas 

He was a carpenter, as his father. His fa- 
ther's name was Joseph. I never knew him. He 
is dead. 



98 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Meier 
Iscarlot, look at me. 

Judas 
What is it? 

Meier 
Is he really Messlas? 

Judas 
Rabbi, all I possessed I gave to the poor and 
followed him. As we left the Sea of Galilee only 
a few weeks ago, he bade them among us that 
still had boats and nets to give them away. This 
they did. He said we might never come back. 
None of us now have anything. Day after day, 
in the sunlight of the fields, and in the shadow of 
the woods and on the mountain side, and night 
after night, under the stars, he told us that the 
end of the troubled world was near. And we 
believed him. We have sat and contended with 
the elders in the gates of many cities. Often we 
wandered from the time of the shepherd's rising 
till he calls his sheep in the evening twilight. 
Every one we passed he stopped and told of the 
coming of the Lord. 

Meier 
Did anybody believe him? 

Judas 
Many listened eagerly, and many there were 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 99 

that believed him. But here in Jerusalem there 
is building of new houses, and marrying, and rid- 
ing in gilded chariots, and gathering of money, as 
if no one believes Messias would ever come. 
Here women adorn themselves in silver and gold 
and pearls, as if they were the favorite slaves of 
heathen kings. Here men go about in fine linens 
of many colors, their mouths filled with laughter 
and wine, as if the anger of the Lord were yet 
far off. Here none will believe he is the Son of 
Man. You, Rabbi, heard them mock me. 

Meier 
He was master here yesterday. 

Judas 
What will happen when he tells the people he 
is Messias? Will they believe him? Here in 
Jerusalem everything is different. Every one 
talks about God, but no one thinks about Him. 
Every one says Messias is coming, but no one be- 
lieves he is coming. Jerusalem staggereth like a 
man that is drunk. 

Meier 
How can you speak so? Have you never 
heard how our forefathers, sitting by the rivers of 
Babylon, wept as they remembered Zion? . . . 
You are troubled, Iscariot. 



100 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Judas 
Many times he told us that the Lord will ap- 
pear in the clouds and declare him master of 
Israel. He told us that we shall sit by his side 
in glory and judge the people. We believed and 
have followed him, as children follow their 
mother. Days and months have passed, and it is 
again Spring. But the Lord has not yet ap- 
peared; and we are only a band of wanderers, 
poorly clad and often without food. 

Meier 
You are troubled, Iscariot. 

Judas 

We do not eat and drink at any king's table, as 
he often has said we should. But we have sat 
at the table with hunger, and we are acquainted 
with the face of scorn. Several times in Galilee 
it was told us that soldiers were on their way to 
seize us. We have scattered like sheep that have 
no shepherd. We have hidden in the woods and 
among the rocks, like wild goats that fear the 
teeth of young lions. 

Meier 

It is a hard life, Iscariot. 

Judas 

We often have sat in the night under the open 
sky and listened to him. His voice is like music 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE loi 

in the night. It is like the voice of a shepherd 
calling his sheep that have scattered. It is like 
far away music, soft and low. Sometimes he 
spoke to us and sometimes to his Father, just a 
little beyond the stars. And we almost have seen 
his Father, and almost have heard the angels sing- 
ing beautiful songs of the world that shall be. 

Meier 
It is wonderful, Iscariot. 

Judas 
One night when the moon looked like a silver 
shield, and the stars like blossoms in a field, our 
brother disciple John thought he saw the Father, 
and giving forth a loud cry, he gave up his ghost, 
and fell as if lifeless into the arms of the master. 
But here in Jerusalem everything is different. 
Our master must show his Father to the people. 
He must do something wonderful by the hand of 
the Lord. 

Meier 

Then will I too follow him. But if he fail, 
and the Lord will not hear him, how can he still 
say he is Messias? 

Judas 
He cannot. If he fail, I will go back to 
Kerioth after the Feast. I will remember his love 
and forget his madness. 



I02 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Meier 
Let us make him give proof that God is his 
Father. Does he not say that God is his father? 

Judas 
He says that. 

Meier 

Let us make him give proof his words will 
reach the ear of God, and the heavens open at his 
voice, and the hand of God stretch down to help 
him. One sign from the clouds and Jerusalem 
will be at his feet, and you and all his followers 
will know the glory that he told you of. 

Judas 
How will you make him give a sign? 

Meier 
Soldiers might lay hold of him. . . . 

Judas 

No, no! 

Meier 

Wait till I have finished. He might be brought 
before the Sanhedrin or before Pilate, and a sign 
demanded of him. If he perform a great mira- 
cle, all will believe in him — O gladly believe In 
him! But it must not be a trick. 

Judas 
You do not know him. Rabbi. 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 103 

Meier 
We must see the hand of God. 

Judas 
Yes, we must see the hand of God. I think 
he will show us the hand of God. 

Meier 

If he be held a prisoner, we shall see if God 
will release him. 

Judas 

But should he fail, and God not hear his 
cries? ... 

Meier 
Everybody will know of it, and he can no 
longer deceive the people. Probably he will go 
back to Nazareth and you to Kerioth — both 
wiser. 

Judas 
You will not let any harm be done him? 

Meier 
No hand shall touch him ruthlessly. Let him 
lift himself up and ride a little on the clouds. 
How then could the people deny him? 

Judas 
They could not. 

Meier 
The people will honor you. Our children's 



I04 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

children will tell how you forced God to show 
himself. Your glory will be great. You will be 
numbered with the prophets. 

Judas 
I will help you, Rabbi. I do not care anything 
about glory. I am very tired. I grieve for the 
kingdom, for a world of peace and love. . . . 

Meier 

We will help each other. \^They embrace and 
kiss.l Iscariot, go yonder and look out upon the 
valley, and see if he is coming. 

[Judas goes of at left. Terreno, the captain 
of the Roman guards, scribes, Pharisees and 
priests, who have been waiting at a little distance, 
approach Meier J] 

Terreno 
The guards are ready in the Tower. I need 
only lift my hand and they will rush down upon 
the Temple. But I will not lift my hand to crush 
a mouse, nor to defend traders and money 
changers, nor priests and Doctors of the Law 
against a rebellious teacher. 

Levi 

(Priest) 

But if he 'is an enemy of Rome, a planter of 
revolutionary seed, a builder of secret fires? . . . 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 105 

Terreno 
I know he is an enemy of Israel. I have not 
heard him say anything against Rome. Yesterday 
he snapped his finger in your faces. 

Levi 
To-day he will snap his finger at Caesar. 

Meier 

He must not be taken as long as the people 
cling to him. 

Levi 

We do not want another fight in the Temple. 

Meier 

He has some strange charm that binds the peo- 
ple. Grown men that listen to him often, like 
young lovers, gaze much at the moon. 

Terreno 
He is ugly to look upon. His face is horrible. 
How can the people cleave to one whose face is so 
horrible? It is the face of a dead man, a face of 
ivory crowned with matted hair. I think he is 
underfed, a seer of strange visions. He should 
eat more. I think he does not sleep enough. 
His eyes are like glass. When he speaks he 
whines like a fox that is wooing. 

Levi 
It is said his voice was like thunder yesterday, 



io6 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

or like the roaring of young lions in the moun- 
tains. 

l^The Court is rapidly filling with people, but 
not so many as yesterday. Jachin, overseer, has- 
tily approaches the group. ^ 

Jachin 

Worthy fathers, the traders are clamoring to 
bring back their animals into the Court. Upon 
the street there are many more competitors and 
prices are low. 

Levi 

Tell them to be silent. 

Jachin 

They say he will not come again to-day. They 
have gathered many persons to their side. There 
are secret mutterings. They say he is afraid to 
come again to-day. 

Sholem 

(Old Priest) 

Tell them to cease clamoring in the house of 
God. 

Levi 

Tell them the Council forbids any disturbance. 
Tell them it is dangerous to disobey the Council. 

Jachin 
I told them that. They laughed and said, 
" Jesus of Nazareth did not find the Council dan- 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 107 

gerous. Perhaps if we pay him the Temple rent, 
he will permit us to drive back our sheep and 
oxen." 

Sholem 
These traders weary me. 

Meier 
They are like flies about a carcass. 
\^Booz, with money changers and other traders, 
approaches the group. ^ 

Booz 
We are going to drive back our sheep and oxen 
into the Temple. 

JUDAH 

(Scribe) 

[Indignant.~\ The Council forbids it! 

Booz 
We have paid the rent to sell in the Temple. 
There is no one here to prevent us. This is the 
day of all the year for trade. We cannot lose 
this day. To-morrow everything is over. To- 
morrow is the Feast. We shall drive the animals 
in again. 

Levi 
[To Jachin.] Have the guards seen any ap- 
proaching procession as yesterday? 

Jachin 
There is no procession coming. 



io8 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Meier 

Are they watching toward the Mount of 
Olives ? 

Jachin 
They are watching toward the Mount of 
Olives. But they are confused. They cannot re- 
member his face. 

Booz 

He will not come again to-day. We will drive 
in our animals. He is afraid to come again to- 
day. 

A Loud Voice 

[Among the people, near the center of the 
Court. ~\ O sheep, hear the shepherd lest you be 
devoured ! In the Temple crawls the serpent and 
behind the door the wolf is hidden ! . . . 

\^The scribes y Pharisees , and traders startle. 
There is a pause. ~\ 

Terreno 
[Smiling. ~\ It is the voice of the fox. 
[ The people give way, and for a moment Jesus 
stands alone in the center.'] 

Booz 
We could take him now. 

Levi 
[Aside to Booz.] Stand away. [Aside to the 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 109 

Pharisees, priests, and scribes.'] Now let each do 
his duty, neither overanxiously nor carelessly. 

Joseph 

(Arimathean) 

[Walking away.] I wash my hands of this. 

Levi 
You did that In the Council yesterday. 

Jesus 
[In a loud voice as before.] The evil men do 
in darkness shall be seen In daylight. They shall 
tremble and be trodden under foot. They shall 
be pierced by the sword! 

Sholem 

(Old Priest) 

Is he referring to the traders? 

Booz 

(Trader) 

He is referring to the priests. 

A Voice in the Crowd 
It is Jesus of Nazareth! 

The Disciples and Others 
Hear Jesus, . . . the friend of the people! 

. . . He drove out the traders ! . . . He is going 

to speak! . . . Hear him! . . . 

\_Jesus moves forward, followed by Peter, John, 

James, and other of his disciples. Many persons 



no JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

gather round him; among them the scribes, Phari- 
sees, elders, and priests. Throughout the follow- 
ing, at various intervals, in the background, the 
traders may be seen arguing with David the Da- 
mascene, Zarah the Jerusalemite, Nathan the 
Galilean, and others who are guarding the places 
and passages formerly occupied by the traders. 
Booz and Dathan mingle in the crowd around 
Jesus, often standing very near him.~\ 

Peter 
Master, see the traders near the balustrade. 

James 
They want to lead their cattle back. 

Matthew 

They say they have paid the rent and will lead 
them back. 

Jesus 

\_Vehemently.^ Already their sins are as 
mountains! If they repent not they shall be cast 
into the valley of filth, to be eaten by worms. 
They shall sleep in the dust. They shall be with- 
ered by fire ! Woe unto you traders and changers 
that lust after silver and gold! . . . 

\_Cries of approbation from the people. 1 

Levi 

(Priest) 

Rabbi, who gave you authority to say what 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE in 

shall be done and what shall not be done here in 
the Temple? 

Several Voices 
\^Amid kisses.~\ We will hear Jesus! . . . 

A Sadducee 

\^Angered.^ Have we no longer any respect 
for our priests? 

Another 
It is Levi that asks a question. 

Jesus 

[Raising his hand to the people. ~\ Let him 
speak. 

Levi 

(Priest) 

I ask by what authority you do these things here 
in the Temple ? 

Jesus 

Tell me from whence John received his author- 
ity to baptize — was it from God or from man? 

Levi 

John? Do you mean him the Tetrarch slew — 
him called the Baptist? 

Jesus 
The same. 

Levi 
I was speaking of you, not the Baptist. 



112 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jesus 
If you answer me, I will answer you. 
\_Levi, Meier, and Judah whisper a moment 
among themselves.^ 

Levi 

I cannot tell from whence John received his 
authority. 

Jesus 

Then I will not tell you from whence I re- 
ceived mine. But I will ask you another ques- 
tion. A man had two sons whom he bade to 
work in his vineyard. The first said, " I will not 
go," but afterwards repented and went. The sec- 
ond said, *' I go," but went not. Which of the 
two did his father's will? 

Levi 
The first. 

Jesus 
Therefore, I tell you that the tax gatherers 
and harlots will go into the kingdom of God be- 
fore you. They by their shameful lives rebelled, 
but afterwards repented and went into their 
Father's vineyard. You rebel not, but you go 
not. 

Jose 

(Old Priest) 

[7*0 Terreno, standing by his side on the outer 
edge of the crowd.^ What is he saying now? 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 113 

Terreno 

I think he is saying that scribes and priests are 
not as good as tax gatherers and harlots. 

Jose 

O it is shameful! 

[The scribes, Pharisees, elders, priests, and 
their followers, look questioningly upon one an- 
other, and for a moment move about Jesus in a 
threatening manner.^ 

Booz 

[Agitated, to Jesus. '\ Do you dare to talk so 
to a priest! 

[Levi motions Booz to he silent."] 

Jesus 
[To the people.] Will you hear another para- 
ble? 

Several Voices 
We will hear I . . . Tell us another parable ! 

Jesus 
A man made a vineyard — planted vines, dug 
a wine press, built a tower — and set hedge all 
around it. Then he let it to vinedressers, and he 
went into another country. . . . 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

[Interrupting.] Is this a new parable? 



114 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jesus 
It has not been told before. 

Meier 

[fFith an air of triumph,'] It was told by the 
prophet Isaiah. 

Jesus 

Thus far it is like to that told by the prophet; 
but I have not finished. . . . And when the sea- 
son came and the man sent for his portion of the 
fruit, the vinedressers beat his servant and drove 
him away empty. He sent another and they 
struck him on the head; and still another, whom 
they killed. Then he sent his beloved son. 
They killed him also. When the lord of the 
vineyard comes, what will he do to these vine- 
dressers? 

Levi 

No doubt he will destroy them and let the vine- 
yard to others. 

Jesus 

O you — all of you, repent before the Lord of 
the vineyard shall come — O you that kill the 
prophets and reject the Son of the Lord of the 
vineyard! The days of the world are numbered 
like the days of a man that is old! . . . 

\_The people murmur approval.] 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 115 

Levi 

Are you trying to tell us that you are the be- 
loved Son of the Lord of the vineyard? Are you 
telling us that you are Messias? 

[Jesus is silent.^ 

Meier 

Rabbi, are you not really a carpenter who lived 
awhile at Cana? Was not your father's name 
Joseph ? And was he not a carpenter before you ? 

Jesus 

[In a loud voice.~\ O men of Jerusalem, you 
are like the builders that reject the stone which 
was afterwards set up as the top-stone of the 
house ! O men of Jerusalem, you that kill the 
prophets and stone them that are sent to you, how 
often would I have gathered you together, as a 
hen gathers her chickens under her wings; but you 
would not! Unless you change your ways, the 
Lord will not come again to this Temple of Israel. 
I also will forsake you until you shall say to me, 
" Blessed is he that comes in the name of the 
Lord." 

[The people show some confusion, many of 
them questioning one another. ~\ 

Jose 

(Old Priest) 

[To Terreno.l Does he deny that he is a car- 
penter? 



ii6 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 
I think he is saying that he is Messias. 

Jose 
O shame, . . . blasphemy! 

JUDAH 

( Scribe) 1 

[To Jesus.l Master, which is the first of all 
the commandments ? Many and long hours have 
we contended in the schools to classify, weigh, and 
measure the order of the Laws. Do you lean 
toward the opinions of the Shammaites or Hillel- 
ites? Or perhaps you lean toward neither. 

Jesus 

The first commandment is, " You shall love the 
Lord with all your heart." And like it is this, 
" You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 

JUDAH 

But, Master, who is my neighbor? The world 
is big and there are many people. Will you give 
us your authorities that these are the first com- 
mandments? Will you lead us step by step 
through the ways of your reasoning, naming the 
sages whose opinions you follow, and where and 
why you depart from that one and cling to this 
one? 

[A pause. Jesus shows irritation.^ 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 117 
John 

(Disciple) 

Master, tell him the parable of the Samaritan 
as you told it to us. 

James 

(Disciple) 

Tell him, Master, then he will understand who 
is his neighbor. 

Jesus 
Once a man was going from Jerusalem to 
Jericho, and he fell among robbers. They 
stripped him and beat him, leaving him half dead. 
By chance a priest passed that way; and when he 
saw the man he went on the other side. . . . 

JUDAH 

(Scribe). 

\_Interrupting.~\ I did not ask you for a tale 
or parable. I asked you for the authorities and 
for the steps of reasoning by which you came to 
your opinion as to which commandment is first 
and which second and so on. I asked for the 
names of the great Rabbis whose teachings you 
follow. 

Several Disciples 

Master, go on with the story! . . . We will 
hear the parable I 



ii8 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jesus 

And a Levite also, when he came to the place, 
passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan 
came upon the man and pitied him. He bound 
up his wounds, and set him on his own horse, and 
brought him to an inn, and cared for him. And 
the next day he took money from his own pocket 
and gave it to the host, saying, " Care for him, 
and if more is needed, I will repay you when I 
return again." [Turning to Judah.~\ Which of 
these three was neighbor to him that fell among 
thieves? 

[Judah is silent.~\ 

Several Voices 
The Samaritan! . . . the Samaritan! . . . 

Simeon 

(Scribe) 

[Standing at one side of the crowd. To Zera, 
scribe, and Joseph the Arimathean.^ I think he 
is too ignorant to be confounded. See how he 
evaded Judah's question. 

Zera 
He knows little of the Law, less of the 
prophets, and nothing of what the great scribes 
have taught. He is ignorant, but shrewd. If he 
had at least a little learning, they might easily 
make him ridiculous. 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 119 

Simeon 

They have not made any progress yet. Judah 
was too urgent; he irritated the people. 

Zera 
See, Meier is again pressing in toward him. 

Simeon 

And with him Saras. They have been whis- 
pering together. I do not always agree with 
Saras, but there is no more learned man in 
Jerusalem. He will confound him. 

Joseph 

(Arimathean) 

I shall have no joy in it. He is filled with 

a great love. Is there so much love in the 

world? . . . \^They continue talking and disput- 
ing among themselves.^ 

Saras 

(Scribe) 

\_To Jesus.^ Rabbi, the prophets have told us 
that Messias will be a descendant of King David 
and will be born at Bethlehem. 

Meier 

(Pharisee) 

Perhaps we have misjudged you. Perhaps you 
really do not make any claim for yourself. Tell 
us, is it not true that you were born at Nazareth 



I20 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

and that your father was a carpenter named 
Joseph? 

Jesus 

If Messias shall be a son of David, why did 
David — speaking of him — call him Lord? 
Does a father call his son lord? Messias is not 
to be a son of David. 

Saras 
But the prophets say that Messias will be of the 
seed of David and will be born at Bethlehem. 

Meier 
Do you believe the prophets? 

Jesus 

\_In a loud voice.'] O you scribes and Phari- 
sees that question me, you read the Law and the 
prophets, but you follow after worldly things! 
You clean the outside of the cup and platter, but 
the inside you leave unclean I ... 

\^Some of the crowd murmur approval, others 
walk away in disgust.] 

David 

(Damascene) 

Here are two traders muttering threats and 
pushing the people about. 

Andrev^ 

(Disciple) 

They are talking and annoying everybody. 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 121 

[Several persons lay hands on Booz and 
Dathan.^ 

Nathan 

(Galilean) 

Jesus, shall we cast them out? 

Several Persons 
They are two that fought us yesterday! . . . 
Let us put them out, . . . throw them over the 
balustrade ! . . . They were muttering threats I 

Jesus 
Let them stay unharmed. 

James 

(Disciple) 

But, Master, they are evil, they are sinful men! 

Jesus 

Let them stay. 

[Booz and Dathan are released, and they dis- 
appear, A little later , they return and may he 
seen on the outer edge of the crowd. ~\ 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

[Surrounded by other Sadducees. To Jesus.l^ 
I am a Sadducee. I do not believe in angels, 
spirits, and the resurrection of the dead, as do the 
Pharisees. I have been told, Rabbi, that you be- 
lieve the dead arise. But how can this be? 
Moses has commanded that should a man die 



122 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

childless, his brother should marry his widow and 
bring up children. Now listen to this. There 
were seven brothers. The first married and died 
childless. The second married his widow, as 
Moses commanded, and he likewise died childless. 
And the third married her and died without a 
child, and the fourth, and so on until the seventh, 
none bringing forth any children. After that the 
woman died. If the dead arise, whose wife of 
the seven brothers shall she be? 

Peter 
\^Indignant,'\ It is not a true story. Who 
were the brothers? Where did they live? 
What were their names? 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

It has happened many times with two or three 
brothers. 

Amiel 

(Priest) 

We can give the names of such a case with four 
brothers. 

Darphas 

What does it matter? It might happen to 
seven brothers. It is the same whether it hap- 
pen to two, three, or seven. I ask whose wife 
shall she be in the other world? Is it not absurd? 
Make a picture of the seven brothers tugging at 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 123 

her in Paradise, each claiming her for himself. 
[The Sadducees laugh.l^ 

Amiel 

If the fourth get her, will not the others plot 
against him? If the first persuade her, saying, 
" I knew her first," will not the seventh say, " I 
knew her last "? 

Darphas 

Might not the fifth, with these same arguments, 
truly contend against them both, saying that she 
was his wife after she belonged to the first and 
before she belonged to the seventh? It is ab- 
surd! 

Amiel 

Or shall she live with the seven, each in turn? 
Or shall they divide her into seven parts? 

l^The Sadducees laugh.^ 

Darphas 

Or shall each address his love to only a seventh 
part of her living? Which will take a hand and 
which a foot? And shall they draw lots, each for 
a part of her? 

\^More laughter in which many of the people 
join.^ 

Darphas 

Is it not absurd? But what say you, Master, 
whose wife shall she be? And how shall each be 
satisfied? 



124 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jesus 

[Irritate d.'\ You do not understand the 
scriptures! In the world of the kingdom of the 
resurrection there is no marriage. The people 
of the resurrection are not men and women Hke 
the people of this world. They are like the 
angels. 

Thomas 

(Disciple) 

Master, the Sadducees have ceased to laugh. 

[A ripple of laughter at the Sadducees goes 
over the people. Darphas and Amiel retreat 
from Jesus, On the outside of the crowd stands 
Simeon, Zera, Jose and Terreno.^ 

Simeon 

Everything has failed. But the Herodians will 
trap him. They will ask him if it is right for us 
to pay taxes to Caesar. 

Zera 

If he says " Yes," the people will hate him and 
desert him, for the people hate the taxes. If he 
says " No," he is in revolt against Caesar. 

Jose 
It is wonderful. Either way he cannot escape. 

Terreno 
If he declares against the taxes, I shall ask the 
Governor to let us take him to-night. 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 125 

Simeon 

He condemned the Temple authorities yester- 
day. He will condemn Caesar to-day, you shall 
see. He knows what pleases the people. If 
everything else fails, Levi and I are to question 
him about a woman. 

\^Terreno moves quickly into the crowd and 
stands a little way hack of Jesus.^ 

Peter 
[To the crowd.'] Do not press so closely upon 
him. Stand back a little. 
[The crowd moves back.] 

Hanan 

(Herodian) 

[To Jesus.'] Rabbi, we believe you under- 
stand the ways of God; and that you teach the 
truth as you understand it, regardless of the opin- 
ions of any man. Only yesterday we were again 
discussing whether it is lawful and right that we 
here in Judea pay personal taxes to Caesar. In 
Galilee you do not pay personal taxes to Caesar. 

Zarah 

(Jerusalemite) 

That is a sensible question, and Jesus will an- 
swer it sensibly. 

Other Persons 
We want no more^ Roman taxes ! . . . Jesus of 
Nazareth stands by the people I . . . 



126 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Hanan 

[To Jesus.'] Is it lawful and right for us in 
Jerusalem and Judea, and even for the half-Jews 
in Samaria, to pay this tribute to Rome? You 
are said to love what is lawful and just. Is this 
tax lawful and just? 

Several Persons 
Jesus stands by the people ! . . . We want no 
more foreign taxes! . . . Let him answer! . . . 

Jesus 
[Raising his hand to silence the people.^ I 
know why you ask me this question. It is not 
because I love justice. Around me prowl wolves 
among the sheep. Around me are pointed teeth 
and sharpened swords. Back of me stands a 
Roman captain. Yonder is the Tower of An- 
tonia, full of Roman soldiers. But I will answer. 
My Father is guarding me, and I have no fear. 
Let me see a Roman coin. Have you one? 
[Coming closer to Hanan. Angered.'] You — 
you who question me ! show me a Roman coin. 

Hanan 

[Taking a coin from his purse.] Here is a 
denarius. 

Jesus 
[Examining it.] Look at this. [Showing it 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 127 

to Hanan.] Whose image is this? Whose in- 
scription is this? 

Hanan 

But is it not unlawful for us to carry about the 
image of a heathen? It is Caesar's image. 

Jesus 

Then give back to Caesar the things that are 
Caesar's. Is it not his coin? And give to God 
the things that are God's. . . . \_In a loud 
voice.'] O men of Jerusalem, who waste words, 
louder and louder I hear in the Temple the sing- 
ing of the scythe of the reaper of death! The 
sky shall be torn open and the earth be cleansed 
by fire. Contend not over little things, for they 
are as a breath; but make clean your hearts ere 
the terror of the day of judgment. 

[Some of the people at the back push forward 
trying to hear and understand what Jesus is say- 
ing.'] 

Matthew 
- [Calling to them.] He has answered. He 
says give to Caesar what is his, and to God what 
is His. 

[On one side of the crowd some of the scribes, 
Pharisees and priests are standing in conference.] 



128 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 
[As he passes them on his way out of the 
Court.~\ He has beaten you. 

Zera 

(Scribe) 

He does not answer like an honest man. 

Saras 

(Scribe). 

When he is confused, he changes the subject 
and talks loud to assure the crowd. 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

He is altogether ridiculous. 

Zera 
He will fall yet. He mingles freely with out- 
casts and harlots. He will be shown one pres- 
ently, and if he cleaves to her and defends her, 
the people will turn from him. Tarry but a little 
longer. 

Terreno 

He is slippery like an eel and cunning like a 
fox. [Contemptuously.^ He has beaten you. 
[Passes off.~\ 

[Meier and Judas, who have been standing to- 
gether for a short time, pass of, engaged in 
earnest conversation, Presently at hack and left 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 129 

loud cries are heard, and there begins to he angry 
pushing and pulling in the crowd.'] 

Booz 

(Trader) 

\^At hack.] Call the soldiers, the people are 
fighting. 

Benjamin 

(Trader). 

Call the Romans to bring order! 
Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

[Hiding hehind the others.] Seize the lead- 
ers! .. . Call the soldiers from the Tower! 

\^The money changers and traders and their fol- 
lowers may he seen agitating the people, and now 
and then striking a hlow.] 

Jesus 
[/w a loud voice.] Must we again drive out 
the traders? 

Many Voices 

The traders are provoking the people! . . . 
Let us drive them out again! . . . Let us throw 
them over the balustrade! . . . Away with the 
traders ! . . . Here are the two who caused the 
fight yesterday, ... let us take them ! 

\_The crowd menacingly turns its attention to 



I30 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

hack. Booz and Dathan rush of at left, followed 
by other agitators.^ 

Several Voices 

Let us overtake them! . . . Come, . . . 
come ! 

James 
Master, shall we overtake them? 

Jesus 

{^Standing before the people.^ Peace, peace, 
they are gone ! 

\_At right and back another disturbance has 
arisen. Temple guards, followed by scribes and 
priests, are partly leading and partly dragging a 
woman through the crowd. When they reach 
the circle that has again gathered around Jesus 
they thrust her within. She sinks to her knees, 
hiding her face in her arms, and crying pitifully.^ 

Guard 

Silence, woman! How can anybody hear any- 
thing when you are making so much noise? Si- 
lence, I say! 

[^The woman endeavors to smother her sobs. 
The eager crowd gathers close about.'] 

Simeon 

(Scribe) 

[Excited and indignant. To Jesus.] She is 
an adulteress ! 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 131 
Levi 

(Priest) 

The guards said she was taken in the very act. 

Guard 
[To prostrate woman, still weeping. ~\ Silence, 
silence, woman! 

Simeon 
The man was a gentile. [Turning to the 
guard.~\ Was he not a gentile? 

Guard 
It happened last night. The guards that took 
her said they could not see very well. The man 
ran away. But they are almost sure he was a 
gentile. 

Many Persons 
Shame ! . . . Shame 1 . . . 

Simeon 
[7*0 Jesus. 1 She has dishonored our race. 
You know the Law. You know what Moses com- 
manded us to do with such a woman ! 

Levi 
He commanded us to stone her ! 

Simeon 

Jesus, what do you say we shall do with her? 
[A pause.'] 



132 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jesus 
I am not appointed to judge her. What differ- 
ence would it make if I say, " Set her free," or, 
"Stone her"? 

Levi 
We want to hear your opinion about adulter- 
esses. Do you not sometimes mingle with them 
and sup with them and in the night . . . 

Jesus 
[Aroused.^ Do you ask me to judge her? 

Simeon 

We want the people to hear what you think 
about adulteresses. If the people approve your 
judgment, who knows but that they may give it 
the power of Law and fulfill it? Such things 
have been. Shall we set her free or shall we 
bruise her flesh with stones till she die? 

[ The woman, still prostrate and hiding her face, 
again cries aloud pitifully .~\ 

Guard 

{^Jerking her by the arm.'\ Silence, silence, I 
say! 

Levi 

What do you answer, Nazarene, shall she live 
or die? 

{^There is a moment's suspense."] 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 133 

Several Voices 

Take her away! . . . Let her not defile the 
Temple! . . . She is horrible! 

[All eyes turn upon Jesus. He stands looking 
down upon her.^ 

The Woman 
\_Amid sohs.l O do not look at me! Do 
not look at me ! 

Guard 

Silence, woman! 

Simeon 

Prophet of Galilee, what do you say we shall 
do with her? You do not answer. 

Jesus 

[/« a loud voice. ^ Stone her! 
[Some of the people appear moved by aston- 
ishment and repulsion.~\ 

A Voice 
We do not stone adulteresses any longer. 

Peter 
Master, Master, surely not kill her? 

James 

(Disciple) 

Master, what has happened? Have you turned 
against the lowly? 



134 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

[The other disciples, confused, clamor around 
Jesus.'] 

Simeon 

(Scribe) 

We will Stone her! [Turning to the people,] 
Do you hear? We will stone her I Your 
prophet has commanded us to stone her! 

Guard 
[Moving to seize the woman.] Where shall 
we take her to be killed? 

Jesus 
We will kill her here in the Temple! Fetch 
stones I 

Many Persons 

No, . . . no! . . . We will not stone her! 
... It is horrible ! ... It is terrible to stone a 
woman ! . . . Cast her out ! . . . 

[0« all sides are movements of dissatisfaction 
and cries of protest.] 

Jesus 
[In a loud voice.] We will kill her! Fetch 
stones ! 

A Voice 

The Nazarene is right! Adulteresses should 
die! 

Several Voices 
She shall die ! . . . We will kill her ! 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 135 

Other Voices 
No, no ! . . . Cast her out ! . . . We will not 
kill her ! . . . 

Jesus 

[Lifting his hands.'] Silence! Silence! . . . 
Let him who is without sin stand forth, for he 
shall throw the first stone at her ! 

\_The agitation quiets a little. The people 
seem confused.] 

A Voice 
Without sin! — what does he mean? 

Another 
No one is without sin! 

Another 
Who then shall throw the first stone? 

Another 
No one shall throw it! 
[^The tension of the crowd relaxes still more.] 

Another 
Perhaps a trader or a money changer will cast 
the first stone at her. 
[^Some laughter.] 

Another 

Unless the scribes and Pharisees stand forth 
and say they are without sin. . . . 



136 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Another 
No one dare say he is without sin ! 

Jesus 
[Angered,'} O scribes and Pharisees, why do 
you not stand forth ? Is there among you no sin- 
less hand to bruise her flesh? See, she is lowly 
and friendless. . . . 

Several Voices 
No one dare stand forth ! . . . No. . . . No. 
. . . Np one ! . . . 

Jesus 

O scribes and Pharisees, you are like sepulchres 
that are niade white and beautiful outside, but in- 
side are full of stench and dead men's bones I 

\_Cheers and hisses. Most of the scribes, 
Pharisees, priests and elders, in disgust, leave the 
Court. 1 

Jesus 

[^Calling after them.^ You build the sepul- 
chres of the prophets and garnish the tombs of 
the righteous. You say if you had lived in the 
times of your fathers you would not have mur- 
dered the prophets. By that you witness that 
you are the sons of them that murdered the 
prophets. Fill up then the measure of your fa- 
thers. 

l^The disciples and followers cheer. Other 



DISPUTATIONS IN THE TEMPLE 137 

persons hasten from the Court, as if fearing an- 
other outbreak.'] 

Jesus 
[Savagely,] You serpents, you offsprings of 
vipers, how shall you escape the judgments of 
hell! [To the prostrate woman, her face still 
buried in her arms.] Woman, your accusers are 
gone. They did not condemn you. Nor do I 
condemn you. Go, and sin no more. 

The Woman 
[Rises, weeping.] O Master, Master! 

Jesus 
[Startled.] Magdalene! 

The Woman 
Master, Master! 

Jesus 
Mary! 

CURTAIN 



ACT III 
GETHSEMANE 



PERSONS IN ACT III 



Jesus 

Young Mark 
His Little Sister 
Terreno, Captain of the 

Roman Guards 
Booz, Trader 
Dathan, Money Changer 



Disciples 
of Jesus 



Philip, 
Thaddeus, 
Andrew, 
Simon, 
James the 
Younger, 
Bartholomew, 
Thomas, 
Matthew, 
James, 
John, 
Peter, 
Judas, 



Roman and Jewish guards, traders, money changers, 

and others. 



ACT III 

Night of the same day. An olive grove in the 
country. At right stands a shed covering an oil 
press. At hack in the distance arise the faint out- 
lines of Jerusalem. The night is growing quiet. 
Now and then the moon floods the scene with 
light. 

[Young Mark and his little sister stand look- 
ing toward Jerusalem.^ 

His Little Sister 
He may not come to-night. He may sleep in 
the city to-night. 

Young Mark 
I think he will come. He does not like the 
city in the night. I have heard some one say that 
he cannot pray in the city. 

His Little Sister 
I cannot see anybody. It is too dark to see 
anybody. Let us go back and say that we could 
not find him. 

Young Mark 

We will wait, he will come. 

HI 



142 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

His Little Sister 
Do not go away from me, I am afraid. 

Young Mark 
Listen ! [J pause. 1 I thought I heard voices 
on the road. 

His Little Sister 
I am hearing voices all the time. I will be 
afraid when Jesus of Nazareth comes. 

Young Mark 
Why will you be afraid? 

His Little Sister 
Father says that he can raise up persons who 
are dead. I am afraid he will bring some dead 
persons with him to raise them up. I do not 
want to see any dead persons raised up. 

Young Mark 
Stop talking about dead persons. 

His Little Sister 

Father says that he knows the angels and talks 
with them on the mountains. I never have seen 
an angel. 

Young Mark 

I nearly saw one once. 



GETHSEMANE 143 

His Little Sister 
Where ? 
[Foices are heard.'\ 

Young Mark 
They are coming. 

His Little Sister 
O, I am afraid, let us run home ! 

Young Mark 

Why are you afraid? He loves children. He 
says grown persons must become children again if 
they want to go into the new kingdom. If you 
had heard him speak in the Temple as I have! 
. . . I would like to follow him all the time. 

His Little Sister 
I am afraid. 

[Various groups of persons enter from the 
right. It is too dark to distinguish anyone.'] 

A Voice 
I will fetch water. 

Another 
I will go with you. \^They go of.'] 

Another 
I will sit and rest awhile. I am tired. 

Another 
We will sit and look upon the Temple. 



144 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Young Mark 
[^Approaching a group, ~\ Are you the dis- 
ciples of Jesus? 

Peter 
Yes. 

Young Mark 
My father invites Jesus and his disciples to 
sleep in our house to-night. Will you tell him 
what my father says? 

\_Peter goes toward group at hack.~\ 

His Little Sister 
Come, let us go home. I am afraid. See, 
yonder! They are laying down dead people. 
They are talking to them. They are trying to 
get them to rise up. . . . 

Young Mark 
Those are the disciples lying down and talking 
to each other. Be still. 

His Little Sister 
I am sure they are dead people. They are 
scolding them because they will not rise up. 
\_Peter returns.'] 

Peter 

He says we shall stay here in the garden to- 
night. 

Young Mark 
It will be cold toward morning. 



GETHSEMANE 145 

Peter 

If it turns cold we will pitch the tents your 
father gave us. Which of his sons are you? 

Young Mark 
I am John. 
\^He and his little sister hasten o)f.] 

Jesus 
[To the disciples.'] Are all here? 

Peter 
All but Judas. 

John 
How wonderful is the night! It Is more won- 
derful than the day, and each day is more won- 
derful than the day before. Yesterday and to- 
day our Father made us masters of the Temple. 
Surely he is very near. O, I am mad with love 
of Him! 

Peter 

You and your brother are usually mad about 
something. We again shall have to call you the 
sons of thunder. 

James 
[Angered.l Do not call us that! 

Peter 
Jesus himself gave you the name. 



146 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

John 
That was a long time ago. . . . 

Jesus 
Cease to contend. 

\_The disciples return with jugs of water which 
are passed from one to another, '\ 

James 

Jesus, we will sit here by you, and look upon 
the night, and talk of the new kingdom. We are 
kings awaiting the goldsmiths that have graven 
crowns for us. 

Peter 

Come, Thaddeus, Simon, let us sit here. 
Yl^he'j sit on the ground a little distance from 
Jesus, His face is turned toward Jerusalem.^ 

Thomas 

I cannot understand why Judas left us before 
we had finished. He arose before we began to 
sing. 

John 

Perhaps the spirit had come upon him, and he 
went into the night to pray alone under the stars. 
He yearns for the kingdom. 

James 

I did not know that he had gone. I was lost 
in the dream of the Lord. 



GETHSEMANE 147 

Bartholomew 
He arose suddenly and went away without 
making any noise. It was while we were pray- 
ing. 

James the Younger 

He did not contend with us when we asked the 
Master to give us our places in the new kingdom. 

Simon 
Did he not say to anyone why he was going 
away ? 

Peter 

I saw him talking to-day with a Pharisee in the 
Temple. 

Philip 

O, let us not speak of Judas any more ! Look 
at the stars. The moon is watching us. It is the 
eye of God. The heavens smile upon us. O 
Master, I would that now they might open and 
show us His face I Is it beautiful? Is it more 
beautiful than the face of a young wife in the 
dawn, or the face of a child sleeping on its moth- 
er's breast? 

\_Jesus turns his head as if to answer, "] 

Peter 
Do not disturb him, he is tired. 



148 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

James 
What will our old friends say when they see 
us sitting beside God in glory? 

Philip 
Perhaps they will hate us. 

James 
Often in the night I have sat alone and won- 
dered at the moon. Master, which of us will 
rule the moon, have power to say when it shall 
come forth in glory and when be hidden in dark- 
ness? 

Peter 
Do not disturb him, he is tired. 

John 
Sometimes in the night when the angels think 
we cannot see, they push back the roof of the 
world. Sometimes I think I almost have seen 
the gold of the gates of Paradise. Perhaps the 
stars are the glitter of the gold of the gates of 
Paradise. 

James the Younger 
I think the stars are as wonderful as the moon. 
They are so thick that they are like white sand 
on the shore of a sea. 

Andrew 
They are like scales on the silver fish of the 
Sea of Galilee. 



GETHSEMANE 149 

Philip 
Perhaps they are silver foot-prints where the 
angels have walked. 

James 

They are little white flowers strewn over the 
meadow of the night. 

James the Younger 

In the new kingdom some of us will gather the 
stars in the dawn when the sun comes up, and in 
the night scatter them again over the sky, as a 
sower scatters seed over his fields when the 
Spring has come. 

Peter 

Do not talk so much about the stars. It is 
tiresome. 

John 
I think our heavenly Father is trying to tell 
us something. I think he is making the stars 
to speak. But we do not understand the lan- 
guage of the stars. 

Thomas 
What do you think He is trying to tell us? 

John 

I think he is trying to tell us to prepare to see 
His face. 



I50 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

James 
Let us sing a hymn. 

Peter 
Do not sing. It is time for rest. 

Simon 
I hope I shall not be asleep when the stars fall 
and the heavens open. O, I wish my father might 
have lived to see these days! Often as a child 
he told me of the wonder of the coming of the 
Lord. 

Andrew 
These two days in the Temple I was afraid. 
Several times I thought of the soldiers of the 
Tetrarch that led away the Baptist. We never 
saw him again. Last night I dreamed of angry 
traders, and I heard many people shouting in my 
dream. 

Peter 

We do not need to have any fear. The angels 
are guarding us. They are fiercer than the 
legions of Rome and more beautiful than young 
virgins. 

James the Younger 

Perhaps the stars are telling us of the love of 
God. 



GETHSEMANE 151 

Thomas 
The love of God — I wonder, Is it like a moth- 
er's love? 

Matthew 
I think it is more like a father's love. Which 
is it, Master? 

John 
Perhaps it is like both. 

Jesus 

In all the world there is no love like unto the 
love of God. 

James the Younger 

Master, is he also our Father? 

Peter 

Do not disturb him, he is tired. 

Jesus 
I have often told you. 

James 
He will give us power to judge the world. 

Philip 

Perhaps that is what the stars are trying to 
tell us. 

[A star darts across the sky."] 

John 
[Crying out.^ Look, look, . . . the heavens I 



152 JESUS; A PASSION PLAY 

. . . The stars are falling! It is the sign of the 
beginning of the judgment! 

[Some of the disciples spring to their feet. 
There is confusion and fear, J 

Bartholomew 
I am afraid. Let us go away from here. 

Andrew 

How wonderful ! It dashed straight down the 
valley. Master, shall we pray? 

Thaddeus 
I thought it would strike the ground a few 
leagues beyond the city. Let us sing a hymn. 

Jesus 

\_Sitting still-l Peace. It is nothing. 

l^There is a moment's pause. As they are 
about to sit down again, another star darts across 
the sky directly over them. Jesus arises. '\ 

John 
This is the sign! 

Peter 
It is a spear of gold with a head of flame. 

John 
Master, Master, this is the sign! 

Bartholomew 
I am afraid. Let us go away from here. 



GETHSEMANE 153 

Thaddeus 
Let us go to the shed of the oil-press. 

Jesus 
Have no fear. 

John 
I feel very strange. I feel that something is 
going to happen. Master, I will stand near you. 

Jesus 
Have no fear. It is the smile of our Father 
on the face of the night. Yet we must watch and 
pray, the hour may not be far off. 

Philip 
Look! Are not the heavens growing paler? 

John 
Jesus, see, the heavens are growing paler, as 
if the dawn were breaking in the middle of the 
sky. 

Andrew 
It is not the dawn. It is the night dust of the 
sky, like the white dust of the Dead Sea Desert 
when the wind is high. 

James 

Master, is there not something moving among 
the stars? Perhaps our heavenly Father is walk- 
ing across the dome of the night. Perhaps He 
is watching us from the dome of the night. 



154 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jesus 

He is always watching us. 

[^Jesus sits down again; and one after another 
the disciples, cautious and still upward looking, 
also sit again. There is a brief pause. ^ 

Simon 

For a moment I thought we were about to look 
upon Him. O, I hope I shall not be sleeping 
when the hour comes ! 

Jesus 
No man shall sleep in that hour. 

Simon 
I would carry through all the ages the memory 
of even the first falling star. 

Jesus 
Not even the dead shall sleep in that hour. 

Thomas 
The dead — shall they also see the face of 
God? 

Jesus 
They also. 

John 
[Sitting near Jesus.~\ I hear a sound, as if 
some one were weeping there in the shadows — 
like the voice of a woman weeping in the shad- 
ows. 



GETHSEMANE 155 

Matthew 
I do not hear anything. 

Thomas 
Perhaps it is a sleepless child crying somewhere. 

John 
Jesus, I see some one passing before us, . . . 
there, . . . clothed in shining white. . . . See, 
out there ! Now he is smiling and blessing us. 
[Starts up, taking hold of Jesus.^ See, there he 
is! He is coming toward us! 

Jesus 
[Arising.'] Peace. 

John 
Now he turns, he is going away ! 

Philip 

I too can see him, he is going down the val- 
ley! 

John 
I do not know where he is going. 

James 

I can see something, now I can see him! But 
he is not going down the valley. He is going 
toward the gate of the city. His face is shining 
like the sun at daybreak! Master, who is this? 



156 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Jesus 
It is the spirit. 

John 

The spirit ! Will it come back? I cannot look 
on it again ! I am weak, I am weary, my eyes are 
heavy. 

Jesus 

Lie down and sleep. 

[John almost sinks to the ground, Jesus sits 
beside him.^ 

Matthew 

[To Andrew.~\ Saw you anything? 

Andrew 

I saw nothing; but I feel a strange warm breath 
near me, as if some one were breathing upon my 
face. 

Matthew 

I saw nothing, nor feel anything. 

Thomas 
Nor I, I saw nothing. 

Matthew 
I see nothing shining but the stars and the moon 
and the glint of the moon on the Gate of Gold 
and on the roof of the Temple. 

Thomas 
I could not see anything besides these. There 



GETHSEMANE 157 

was no one In the valley clothed in shining 
white. 

Jesus 
It is not given to all to look upon the spirit. 

Andrew 

Is the spirit more wonderful to look upon than 
the city yonder covered with moonlight? 

Thomas 
How can anything be more wonderful than the 
city in the night? 

Philip 

The Gate of Gold in the moonlight trembles 
like a fire. 

Andrew 

The Temple looks like the face of a dead per- 
son wrapped in a veil of silver. 

Philip 
Like a woman clad for a feast. 

Matthew 
More like a palace lighted for a feast. 

Thomas 

When have you seen a palace lighted for a 
feast? 

Matthew 
I saw Pilate's at Caesarea once lighted for a 



158 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

feast. But I think there is no building in the 
world like the Temple. Herod's theatre and 
amphitheatre are as nothing compared to it. 

Andrew 
Master, behold the wonder of the Temple in 
the moonlight! It is like a flame of gold whose 
smoke is silver. . . . 

Jesus 
[Irritated.il Not one stone of the Temple 
shall lie upon another in the day of judgment. 
They shall fall like the leaves of a tree when it 
frosts in the autumn. O vain Jerusalem! where 
men trim their beards, and hang upon themselves 
gold, and hang upon themselves silver and ivory; 
where women curl their hair and sprinkle it with 
dust of gold. In the hairs of their head they 
hang pearls like pale stars risen when the sun 
is setting. Upon their ears they hang earrings 
like drops of water that the moon shines on in 
the pool of Siloam. They cover their faces with 
veils like silver mist. They are like adulteresses 
that walk the streets of Caesarea, or like young 
women slaves of Egypt. O vanity I What avail 
when the Lord cometh! 

Peter 
When will this be? 



GETHSEMANE 159 

James 
[To Peter.'] A little while ago you said we 
should not ask him questions. 

Jesus 
Do not contend among one another. 

Andrew 
We have waited many months. Surely we will 
not have to wait much longer. Perhaps it will 
be to-night. 

Peter 

I thought a little while ago that the hour had 
come. But now the heavens are still again, as if 
we had not seen anything. Jesus, here among 
ourselves, tell us when this shall be. We will 
not speak of it to any man. 

Jesus 
I cannot tell you the day and the hour. Only 
our Father knows. 

Matthew 
We have given up everything. We are wan- 
derers waiting for a kingdom. We are sur- 
rounded by enemies. The priests hate us. The 
scribes and Pharisees despise us. These two days 
in the Temple have sharpened the hate of our 
enemies. They tried to tempt some of us away 
from you. Perhaps they are now tempting Judas. 



i6o JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

I am afraid something Is going to happen. We 
are alone, away from the people, and it is night. 
\^He arises and after a time disappears among the 
trees.~\ 

Andrew 
What more signs shall we look for than the 
great stars that darted over our heads, and the 
spirit clothed in white, and the strange warm 
breath that came upon us? Jesus, what more 
signs will there be than these? 

Jesus 
You will know the hour. There will be pesti- 
lence and famine. In hate and confusion men 
will kill each other. The sun will be darkened 
with blood and the moon lose her light. In that 
night stars will dash down upon the earth. The 
wicked shall be burned like withered grass in a 
field. How can there be a world of love and 
peace if the wicked live ? Therefore do we pray 
that the wicked repent before the hour of judg- 
ment, that they may enter the kingdom. 

James 
Master, it is terrible to burn people ! 

Peter 
[To James.~\ Not long ago you and your 
brother asked Jesus to permit you to burn the 
house of a Samaritan while he and his family were 
within asleep. 



GETHSEMANE i6i 

James 

That was different. We had asked him for 
shelter, and he beat us and drove us away. 

Jesus 
Do not contend. ... In that day believe none 
other who calls himself the Son of Man, for I 
only shall be lifted up to our Father, while 
lightning cleaves the heavens in twain and shakes 
the earth. You shall then see the power and 
glory of our Father. The world has grown old 
and Israel has waited long. 

Bartholomew 
Shall we be afraid in that dreadful night? 

Jesus 

You will have no fear. The angels will gather 
up the righteous from the ends of the earth. And 
I shall give to each of you a kingdom, and you 
will eat and drink at the tables of my kingdom, 
and you will sit on thrones judging the tribes of 
Israel. 

Philip 
Master, you have told us this before. It Is 
wonderful! But when? . . . 

Jesus 
I tell but what the prophets have told and what 
our Father has told me in the watches of the night. 



i62 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

It Is written everywhere. Behold the heavens! 
Are they not speaking? Hear you no voice in 
the night when you pray? . . . 

Peter 
How soon will this be? 

Jesus 

I have told you I do not know the day and 
the hour. 

Peter 

Then the month or the year? 

Jesus 
This generation shall not pass till all these 
things have been. 

James 
This generation! 

Thomas 
Perhaps we shall have to wait for years. 

Andrew 
O, I am Impatient to look upon Immortality 
without death! 

James 
I am hungry to rule in a perfect world. 

Jesus 
Men and women eat and drink and marry as 
If the morning of the world had just dawned. 



GETHSEMANE 163 

Heathen charms quiver low upon the breasts of 
virgins. Their girdles sparkle like the sun. 
They wash their bodies in fragrant ointments, 
that men shall desire them. They come forth 
with the odor of myrrh and saffron. They dwell 
in gardens of lilies. Nowhere have I seen such 
vanity — no, not even in Caesarea and Tiberias. 
The world is at the evening hour. The night is 
falling. But they heed not. It was just so in 
the time of Noah before the flood. And the 
flood came and swallowed them. 

Thomas 
Why should we be anxious if years may yet 
pass? 

Jesus 
I say to you watch, whether the time be at mid- 
night, at cock-crowing, or in the morning, lest you 
fall into temptation and the hour come and you 
be numbered with the wicked. In that hour of 
terror the good and the evil shall be separated. 
Be not like a foolish master who watches not be- 
fore but after thieves have entered and stolen. 
You have often heard me tell the people the story 
of the ten virgins and the story of the man di- 
viding his goods among his servants and going 
into another country. Just so shall the wise and' 
the foolish, and the righteous and the wicked, be 
separated. 



i64 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Peter 
Will men be separated from them they love? 

Jesus 
Two working in a field, one will be taken and 
one left. Two women grinding at a mill, one 
will be taken and one left. 

Peter 
Ahd husband and wife — will they be separated 
if one be evil? 

Jesus 
They too. 

James 

Master, it is terrible! 

Jesus 
How else shall the evil be burned out of the 
world? Look you, how selfish men have trodden 
down the poor. They shall likewise be trodden 
down. How else shall there be eternal life with- 
out grief, joy untouched with tears? They that 
live in hovels here, shall dwell in mansions. See 
now how calm the night. Our Father is looking 
down upon us from behind the stars and the veil 
of the sky. Yonder, a little way, unseen, is the 
throne of the world. Yonder is the dream of 
the world, the hope of the ages that now are dead. 
Think how many that are now sleeping in the 
earth have lifted their hands to our Father in 



GETHSEMANE 165 

the still midnight hours. He will not forsake 
us. We are his children. 

Simon 
Master, I am weary and long for sleep. 

James the Younger 
I too, my eyes are heavy. 

Jesus 

Go to rest, all of you. The day has been long 
and troubled. I hear a voice calling me. I shall 
watch awhile. 

[The disciples, except Peter , James, and John, 
arise wearily and wander of at right and left.~\ 

Simon 
[Calling hack to Jesus.^ Master, do not let us 
sleep should there be signs the hour is coming. 

Jesus 
[To Peter.'] Will you follow them? 

Peter 
I will not sleep yet. 

James 
John and I also will watch awhile. I will wake 
him. He is still sleeping. 

Jesus 
Let him sleep. Stay here, I will go forward a 
little and pray. 

[Re-enter Matthew. Jesus tarries.] 



i66 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Matthew 
Has Judas come? 

Peter 
No. 

Matthew 
I walked around the garden and a little upon 
the road. I thought I must find him. Jesus, I 
am troubled. 

Jesus 
What troubles you ? The night is still. 

Matthew 
I heard evil mutterings in the Temple to-day. 
Two scribes followed me, and sought to entice 
me. When they saw I would have nothing to 
do with them, one coming close to me, said, 
" Your leader will be taken, leave him lest you 
also be taken." Later, close behind me, I heard 
some one say, " This young Galilean is a blas- 
phemer. The High Priest will not let him pass." 
The priests, scribes, and Pharisees hate us. The 
traders and money changers despise us. Master, 
let us leave Jerusalem. 

Jesus 
We will not run away. 

Matthew 
At least let us leave the grove to-night and 
go upon the mountain. 



GETHSEMANE 167 

Jesus 
Matthew, lift up your eyes. Up there Is our 
Father. 

Peter 
The people are on our side. 

Matthew 
We are alone in the night. The people are not 
here. They are sleeping, each in his house, or in 
his tent upon the wayside. Judas is gone. Is he 
listening to evil whispers? Judas is not wise. 
The priests are cunning. I am disturbed. I dare 
not go to sleep. 

James 

Perhaps they have taken him, and he cannot 
come. 

Peter 

As I was passing from the Temple to-day, I 
heard a Pharisee say, " This man is a false 
prophet. His folly will cost blood." " Whose 
blood? " I turned and asked. He looked angrily 
at me, and passed out. He knew I was a fol- 
lower. 

James 
Perhaps the evil spirits are whispering into the 
ears of Judas. Perhaps he is wandering a little 
and cannot find his way back. But he will come. 



i68 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

He hungers for the kingdom. Master, do you 
not think he will come ? 
[Jesus stands silent. "l 

Matthew 
I think he sits to-night in the house of tempters. 

James 
It is a terrible thing to be tempted in the night. 

John 

[Awakening, and rising a little. '\ I have slept. 
Master, see the stars. They are watching us. 
They are the golden eyes of God. We are in the 
palm of the hand of God. No harm can come to 
us. The soldiers of the earth cannot touch the 
palm of the hand of God. They cannot reach 
it. The hand of God is terrible in anger. No 
one will dare to strike against it. 

Jesus 
Matthew, He who makes the night to glow with 
moonlight, and commands the grass to come forth 
in the springtime — He will not forsake us. He 
has given his angels charge over us. We are his 
children. He has told us. 

Matthew 

Jesus, who are these angels that are to care 
for us? 



GETHSEMANE 169 

Jesus 
They are the good men and women of all times 
now living In a happy world. They are the saints. 
The prophets have said that it is so. What 
could all of Jerusalem do against the angels? 
Jerusalem is but a stone lying on the side of a 
valley. She is a withered weed. A few fallen 
stars would make her a city of flame, a small sea 
would drown her. Nothing can harm us — not 
a hair of our heads. 

Matthew 
But, Master, should the priests sometime send 
out the Temple guards, and they overtake us on 
a solitary highway; or should many of our enemies 
come upon us suddenly in a lonely place? . . . 
We are but a handful. 

Jesus 
Saw you anyone moving about near the garden? 
Are there here prowlers in the night with hearts 
poisoned against us? 

Matthew 
I did not see anyone. The trees cast deep 
shadows. The bushes are thick. I heard sounds; 
but I think they came from afar on the wind. 

Peter 
From which way came the sounds? 



I70 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Matthew 
Who can tell from whence a sound on the wind 
in the night? 

Jesus 
In other days I sent you forth without money 
and even without shoes, and you lacked nothing. 

Matthew 
We were then in villages and in the country, 
among friends and kin. But here .... 

Jesus 
But here we are among snakes and wolves. 

Matthew 
Here we are called doers of crime. The hearts 
of the wicked yearn for us. Their swords are 
crying out for us. 

Jesus 

To-morrow let each among you that has money 
buy a sword. How many swords have we ? 

Matthew 
Two. 

Jesus 
Tarry here and watch. I will go forward a 
little and speak with our Father. Nothing shall 
harm us. He will not let anything harm us. For 
a moment, Matthew, you roused me and I forgot. 
Two swords are enough. We do not need any 



GETHSEMANE 171 

more. . . . We do not need any swords. \_Turns 
and goes off at left and back.^ 

Matthew 
If we had a score of men armed .... 

James 
You are tired, Matthew; go to sleep. 

Matthew 
Who will watch? 

Peter 
We will watch. 

Matthew 
I shall lie down. But I shall not sleep. I 
would it were morning. [Goes off at right.'\ 

James 

Peter, saw you the face of Jesus in the moon- 
light as he turned toward us ? 

Peter 
I was not looking. 

James 

It was white like wool that has been washed. 
It was whiter than I have ever seen his face. 

Peter 

He has done great deeds in the Temple these 
two days. He is tired. 



172 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

James 
He does not sleep every night. I often have 
wakened and heard him praying. 

Peter 

I have not heard him in the night. I sleep 
soundly. 

James 

Likely he is thinking about Judas. 

Peter 

Likely. 

John 

[Approaching Peter and James.^ What was 
Matthew saying? 

Peter 
He is anxious. 

John 
What is he anxious about? 

Peter 
He fears the priests and traders. 

James 
I will lie down a little. I am very tired. 

Peter 
Lie down. I shall sit here. 
[A voice is heard rising and falling with emo- 
tion; hut the words cannot he understood.^ 



GETHSEMANE 173 

John 
[Sitting beside Peter.'] He is praying. His 
voice is full of grief. He is troubled. I can tell 
he is troubled. I will go to him. [^Starts up.] 

Peter 
[^Sternly.] Do not disturb him. Let him 
pray. Did he not tell us to wait here while he 
prayed? 

John 
You are angry. 

Peter 

I am tired. Let us lie down. [^Both lie on 
the ground near James.\ 

John 
\^After a brief pause.] I cannot understand 
what he is saying. 

Peter 
Nor L 

John 

Peter, are there not two voices? 

Peter 

I hear only one. I am tired. I am not listen- 
ing. 

John 
I think there are two voices. {Starts up.] 
Perhaps — perhaps an angel is talking to him. 



174 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

One voice is like the sound of a harp in the Tem- 
ple before the Levites sing. 

Peter 
Lie down! Do not talk any more. I hear 
only one voice. 

[John lies down. A brief pause. ~\ 

John 

It is strange you cannot hear two voices. I 
also hear footsteps. Do you not hear footsteps, 
Peter? [No answer.^ The leaves of the bushes 
are rustling. Some one is moving the leaves of 
the bushes, Peter. I think some one is here whom 
we cannot see. The starlight and the moonlight 
are brighter than the sunlight. I can see things 
in the moonlight that I cannot see in the daylight. 
The moonlight is like silver liquid, like very thin 
silver liquid that the shields of the soldiers are 
bathed in. . . . Now the leaves of the bushes are 
still again. But I think some one is here whom 
we cannot see. Perhaps it is a spirit. Are you 
asleep, Peter? 

[No answer. The voice of Jesus, constantly 
growing fainter, is soon scarcely audible; and 
after a short time is silent. A soft wind flutters 
the leaves. The screech of a bird of the night is 
heard, and in the distance the baying of a dog. 
Some one comes from the right, stands a moment 
in the attitude of listening and returns from whence 



GETHSEMANE 175 

he came. There is a gradual hush of the night. 
In the garden there is no sound, save from the 
lips of John, who mumbles a little now and then 
in his sleep. Jesus reappears at back.^ 

Jesus 
[Calling softly.'] Peter. [Coming forward a 
little.'] Peter. 

[John mumbles again in his sleep.] 

Jesus 
[Near the disciples.] Peter, are you asleep? 
[No answer.] Asleep. Could you not watch 
with me an hour? The spirit is willing, but the 
flesh is weak. [He moves back, looks a moment 
across the valley, then goes of again at left. 
Again for a time his words come forth indis- 
tinctly. Then silence. A brief pause.] 

A Voice 
[Heard faintly.] Jesus of Nazareth! . . . 
Jesus of Nazareth ! . . . Jesus of Nazareth ! . . . 

Jesus From Without 
Who is calling me? 

The Voice 

[Nearer.] Rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, where 
art thou ? 

Jesus From Without 
Who Is calling me ? 



176 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

^Presently Young Mark appears at hack, and 
Jesus enters. 'I 

Young Mark 
\_Agttated. In a loud whisper. '\ Rabbi, look 
toward the city ! Look toward the wall near the 
Gate of Gold ! 

Jesus 
[Going toward him.~\ Who are you? 

Young Mark 

I am Young Mark. . . . They are collecting 
outside the gate. Dost thou see? 

Jesus 
I see nothing. 

Young Mark 
There, to the left, near the Gate of Gold. 

Jesus 
I see lights. 

Young Mark 

They are carrying torches. They are coming. 

Jesus 

It is nothing. Perhaps some rich man with 
many servants traveling by night. Why are you 
not asleep in your father's house? The hour is 
late. 

Young Mark 

I have been hiding in the bushes. I heard what 



GETHSEMANE 177 

Matthew said. I was afraid they would come 
with swords while you were all asleep. . . . See, 
Rabbi, they are crossing the valley! 

[Lights may he seen moving in the distance.^ 

Jesus 

Perhaps they are seeking some one who is lost. 
Perhaps they are seeking a lost child. It may be 
Caiaphas on his way to the top of the Mount of 
Olives. Has he not a palace there? 

Young Mark 

He never has so many torchbearers. It Is not 
the path to his palace. I see the glitter of ewords. 
They are on the bridge over the brook. I can 
hear the clanking of swords. They are soldiers. 

Jesus 
They are soldiers. They are coming. 

Young Mark 
Rabbi, come to my father's house. [Jesus 
stands silent.] My father will hide you. He 
loves you, come away. They are soldiers. . . . 
I once saw soldiers kill a man by the bridge. His 
blood ran Into the brook. They cut him with 
swords till he fell. Rabbi, come to my father's 
house ! 

Jesus 
I cannot hide like a thief. 



178 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Young Mark 
Rabbi, they are coming. They are nearer. 

Jesus 
Peace. Let them come. 

Young Mark 
They are turning straight toward us. Come 
away, come away! [Rushes off.'] 

Jesus 
[Turning toward Peter, James, and John, still 
sleeping,'] How peacefully you sleep, tired chil- 
dren ! Soon you will scatter like frightened sheep. 
[Again looking out toward the approaching 
lights.] O bearers of fire, bearers of hungry 
swords in the night, know you not that I do my 
Father's will! [Goes off at left. A pause.] 

The Voice of Jesus 

[Heard indistinctly at first, then clearly.] O 
Father, do a mighty deed! The hour has come. 
If it be possible let this cup pass away from me 1 
. . . [Continues indistinctly.] 

[Young Mark enters.] 

Young Mark 
Rabbi, they are near the Pomegranate grove. 

The Voice of Jesus 
[Rising again.] Soften their hearts. But if 



GETHSEMANE 179 

they will not, then let the earth beneath them rise 
in anger ! . . . \_Continues indistinctly.^ 

Young Mark 
Rabbi, the torches are in the Pomegranate 
grove. Come, come ! . . . 

The Voice of Jesus 
[Rising again,^ O, I am sad unto death! . . . 

Young Mark 
They are coming through the grove. They are 
putting out the torches. . . . Rabbi, come, 
comej . . . 

The Voice of Jesus 
[Very loud.] O my Father, O my Father, let 
this bitter cup pass from me ! . . . 

Peter 
[Waking.] Who is crying out? 

Young Mark 

They are coming, yonder, the soldiers! They 
are coming for him. . . . O, bring him away ! 
[Peter arouses James and John.] 

Young Mark 
[To Jesus.] Now they are upon us. The 
bushes are moving. O Rabbi, come ! I will not 
stay any longer. I am afraid to stay any longer. 
Come, Rabbi! . . . [Rushes of.] 



i8o JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

The Voice of Jesus 
[In agony. 1 Let this cup pass! Remember, 
O my Father, thy promise in the nights at Naz- 
areth! Thou wilt not forsake me. Thou wilt 
keep thy word. Thou art God. Give me 
strength. Now thou art making me strong. 
Fire cometh into my mouth and a sword sticketh 
from mine eyes! ... 

John 
O, his voice ! . . . Let us go to him. 
[Enter Judas. ^ 

Judas 
[Calling.'] Master, Master! 
[The three disciples rush upon Judas.] 

Peter 

Judas, what is this you are doing? Who are 
these that stand behind the bushes? 

Judas 
Where is Jesus? He will send them away. 
[As Jesus enters from the left, Judas endeavors 
to kiss him. Jesus repulses Judas.] 

Judas 
Master, they followed me. They have come 
to take thee ! 

Peter 
Why did you not hide from them on the way? 



GETHSEMANE i8i 

Judas 

[Stepping nearer Jesus, confidentially.^ De- 
stroy them, Master! 

\_A score of soldiers and others carrying swords 
and clubs enter quickly from the right. ^ 

Terreno 

(Captain Roman Guards) 

Which Is the prophet? 

Jesus 
Are you a band of murderers wandering in the 
night ? 

Terreno 
Which is the prophet? 

Booz 

(Trader) 

Captain, It is he. I know his voice ! 

Jesus 
By what authority do you ask for him? 

Terreno 
We are Roman soldiers of the Tower and Jew- 
ish guards of the High Priest. We have author- 
ity from the Council of the Sanhedrin. 

Jesus 

Why do you come with swords and clubs? Is 
there a robber here? 



i82 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

Captain, I am sure it is he. 

Terreno 
We have come for the prophet of Nazareth, 
he that led the riot yesterday in the Temple. 
Let him stand forth. Which is he? 

Jesus 
I am he. 

[The soldiers quickly move around Jesus and 
the disciples.^ 

Terreno 
Let none make any outcry, that needless blood 
be not drawn. 

Judas 

I sicken of this. [Aside to Jesus.~\ Now, 
Master, send them away by the power of our 
Father. 

Jesus 

I spoke every day in the Temple. Why do you 
come in the night as for a thief? Let shame rise 
up in you and send you away. What man of you 
has it within him to lay an angry hand on me ? 

Terreno 

We have no time for arguments. Come, you 
shall go back with us. 



GETHSEMANE 183 

Jesus 
[Addressing individual soldiers. ~\ What evil 
have I done to you or to you? I have suffered 
for all of you. You are my brothers, you and 
you. . . . 

Terreno 
Enough, be silent, come forth I 

Jesus 
Hear me, for you know not what you do. Be- 
hold the night how still it is; but in your hearts 
are tumult and unrest. From the stars a voice is 
calling; but you do not hear it. O, unstop your 
ears, you bearers of swords, for it is the voice 
of your Father that is calling you ! . . . 

Terreno 
[To the guards.^ Do not listen to him. Ad- 
vance ! 

Booz 
[Standing hack of the guards,^ Captain, com- 
mand the soldiers to seize him. 

[The soldiers begin to close in on Jesus,~\ 

Jesus 

[Moving toward them as they come, aroused.~\ 
Are you not afraid lest God strike you all blind; 
or wither up each hand that holds a sword I 

[The Jews among the soldiers murmur and 
shrink hack.^ 



i84 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 
Stand still ! He cannot harm you. 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

Strike him with a sword, one of you ! 

Booz 

(Trader) 

Give me a sword! 

Terreno 
Stand back, you traders, and be silent! 

Jesus 
Disperse, else will the earth beneath your feet 
gap and you be cast into pits of fire ! 
\_The Jews shrink back again,~\ 

Terreno 

Stand still, you cowards, or I will have my sol- 
diers rip him open! . . . 

[^Several of the Roman soldiers draw their 
swords. The disciples move hack in horror. 1^ 

Judas 
O, I sicken of this ! 

Terreno 
Sheathe your swords. I have given no order 
yet for his blood. 



GETHSEMANE 185 

Jesus 

Take away your soldiers! Have you no fear 
of me? Have you no fear of God? . . . 

Terreno 
Silence ! You talk too much ! 
[The soldiers move more closely upon him.'] 

Judas 

Master, turn them into stone, or set them upon 
the gilded tower of the Temple, or let boiling 
water break from the earth and consume them! 
Wait no longer. 

[The Roman soldiers laugh,] 

Jesus 

[Lifting his hands and calling loudly,] Now, 
O my Father, let thy. . . . 

Terreno 
[Drowning his voice,] Silence, silence! Pre- 
pare to depart! 

Judas 

Master, destroy them! 

[The other disciples come running in from 
right and left. The soldiers move about quickly, 
drawing their swords,] 

Terreno 
Strike if any attack or move upon you in anger. 
Strike if any make an outcry. [To disciples,] 



i86 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Let everyone be silent! Who cries out will be 
sabered I 

Judas 
O, I sicken of this ! 

Matthew 
Master, call down the angels to defend us. 

Jesus 
[After looking from one to another of his dis- 
ciples, and again lifting his hands, in a loud voice. ^ 
Father, O my Father, if it must be I will drink 
this bitter cup I 

Terreno 

Silence ! 

[The Roman soldiers with drawn swords rush 
upon Jesus. J 

Terreno 
Wait! Do not strike him till I command you. 

Judas 
Master, Master, go with them or they will kill 
thee. O, I sicken of this ! In Jerusalem, before 
all the people, perhaps God will set thee free ! . . . 

Jesus 
O my Father, thou art speaking to me! In 
Jerusalem thou wilt show thyself! Thou art 
God ! Thy will be done. I go. . . . 



GETHSEMANE 187 

Terreno 

Silence ! Step forward from among the others 
and be bound. 

[One of the Jewish soldiers, Malthus, with 
cords approaches Jesus.'] 

Several Disciples 
No! ... No! ... Do not bind him! 
\^Peter draws his sword.] 

Jesus 
Put up your sword, Peter. He that lifts a 
sword here will be killed. 

Peter 

You shall not bind hirn ! [^Strikes quickly at 
Malthus who falls.] 

Terreno 

Seize him ! Seize all of them ! 

\^Peter and the other disciples, except Judas, run 
of, pursued by some of the soldiers, traders, and 
others. Jesus helps to lift Malthus from the 
ground. The cords are taken by another soldier 
who begins to bind him.] 

Judas 
Why do you bind him? He is not a murderer 
or a thief. 



i88 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 
[To soldiers.^ Bind him. Place him in the 
center. Light torches! 

Jesus 
[While the soldier is binding himS\ Alas, 
Judas, my Judas, it is thou that hast done this — 
thou that hast prayed with me so often, and lain 
down to sleep with me in the night. I will pray 
our Father that ere thou die thou wilt be forgiven. 

Judas 

O Master, can it be thou art not he whom 
thou hast said? Can it be thy words have failed 
to reach the ear of God, and thou art helpless? 
Jesus, Master, speak! 

Jesus 

Thou knowest who I am. 

[ Torches are lighted, Jesus is placed in the cen- 
ter, and all hut Judas march off, followed pres- 
ently by the soldiers and others that pursued the 
disciples.^ 

Judas 
[Falling to his knees.'] O Father, what have 
I done ! If he is indeed thy heaven-appointed 
king of Israel, to-morrow by a great miracle thou 
wilt set him free ! O, before all the people thou 
wilt set him free ! But if he is not he of whom 
the prophets have spoken, let none do him any 



GETHSEMANE 189 

harm. Let the people send him forth from the 
city, that we be no longer deceived. O, I am 
weary of heavens that come not, of promises un- 
fulfilled ! Father, to-morrow thou wilt show thy- 
self, or by thy absence chastise a gentle fool ! . . . 

CURTAIN 



ACT IV 
THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 



PERSONS IN ACT IV 



Jesus 

Pilate, Governor of Judea 
Caiaphas, High Priest 
Annas, Former High 

Priest 
Judas, a Disciple of Jesus 
Terreno, Captain of the 

Roman Guards 
Joseph, an Arimathean 
Jachin, an Overseer of 

the Temple 
David, a Damascene 



Zara, a Jerusalemite 
Nathan, a Galilean 
KoRA. 1 Money Chang- 

ers 

Scribes 



} 



Dathan, 

Saras, 

Simeon, 

Levi, 

Darphas, >■ Priests 

JOSIAS, 

Booz, 

Benjamin, J- Traders 

Jacob, 



A Roman guard, a palace servant, soldiers and many 

others. 



ACT IV 

The following morning. In front of the pal- 
ace of Herod the Great. At left a balcony, con- 
nected with the palace by bronze doors at hack, 
and with the pavement below by broad steps. 
Extending to the right are rows of massive white 
marble pillars, through which may be seen a large 
court, with flowing fountains, reservoirs, beds of 
many colored flowers, broad walks, and stone 
seats. Protruding here and there are magnifi- 
cently sculptured porticos with columns of varied 
colors. In a near fountain, doves and other birds 
are bathing and pluming their feathers, with a 
profusion of cries and flapping of wings. Over 
the scene shines the early morning sun. 

\^A Roman guard and a palace servant are talk- 
ing at left.l 

Roman Guard 
When Is the Governor going back to Caesarea ? 

Palace Servant 

Imediately after the Feast. He hates Jerusa- 
lem. 

193 



194 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Roman Guard 

I like it. This is the first time I have been 
here. I will ask the captain if I may come again 
next year. ... I watch here at the gates part of 
the night, then I find amusement. 

Palace Servant 

Amusement ! 

Roman Guard 

There is plenty of it here. 

Palace Servant 
They say the Jews would kill a woman. . . . 

Roman Guard 
That is silly talk. The Jews are fond of 
women. 

Palace Servant 
The Governor thinks the Jews in Jerusalem 
queerer even than those of Cassarea. Here they 
are always disputing about religion. 

Roman Guard 
To hear them talk you would think religion is 
a thing you can eat. 

Palace Servant 
In Caesarea people work. Here nearly every- 
body makes his living out of religion. In Rome 
we make less fuss about all of our gods than they 
do about their one god. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 195 

Roman Guard 
Have they only one god? He must be very 
busy. How can one god look after everything? 
What kind of a god is he? 

Palace Servant 
He lives in the clouds. 

Roman Guard 
Has anybody ever seen him? 

Palace Servant 

Some say that he has been down several times, 
and has been seen by their prophets. 

Roman Guard 

I do not believe it. How can anyone live in 
the clouds? 

Palace Servant, 
Some of our gods have lived in the clouds. 

Roman Guard 
That is different. Our gods can do anything. 

Palace Servant 
This god is very strict with the Jews. He has 
made thousands of rules which they must obey. 

Roman Guard 
Is that true ! 



196 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Palace Servant. 
For example, he does not permit them to eat 
the meat of swine. 

Roman Guard 
Perhaps he is only jesting. Perhaps he does 
not really mean it. 

Palace Servant. 
He is a serious god. He is not the kind of a 
god that jests. They say he has never laughed. 
They say he has never even smiled. 

Roman Guard 

Great Csesar, is that true ! Why do the people 
cling to him? Why do they not get one of our 
gods? They are not strict with us. 

Palace Servant. 
They are afraid. 

Roman Guard 
Who were this Jew god's father and mother? 

Palace Servant. 
O, he isn't like our gods! He never had any 
father and mother. 

Roman Guard 
Isn't it silly? 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 197 

Palace Servant 
They say, though, that he will have a son some 
day. 

Roman Guard 
A son? 

Palace Servant 
This son is to be the boy that will defeat Caesar 
in battle. 

Roman Guard 
Ridiculous! . . . You know a lot about their 
religion. 

Palace Servant, 

I know almost enough to be a scribe, but I 
should rather be a priest. 

Roman Guard 
Do the priests make much money? 

Palace Servant 
Many of them marry rich women. They live 
in the finest houses in Jerusalem. Inside some of 
them there are decorations of carved sandal wood 
from India and cedar from Lebanon. The grat- 
ings of their windows are brazen bars that look 
like dead gold. . . . 

Roman Guard 
[I n t err up tin ^.1 See, a lot of people are com- 
ing up the hill. . . . No doubt they are strangers 



198 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

attending the Feast, come to pay their respects to 
the Governor. 

Palace Servant 
It is too early for that. He is eating break- 
fast. These Jews are a tactless people. 

Roman Guard 
What magnificent robes some of them wear I 

Palace Servant 

They are probably priests who do not live in 
Jerusalem. There are some of our soldiers 
among them, . . . and the captain of the Tower. 
Those walking ahead are servants of the High 
Priest. I can tell by their garments. 

Roman Guard 
There is walking in the midst of them one whose 
hands are bound — is there not? 

Palace Servant 
It is dreadful to see a criminal. Perhaps he 
has done something horrible. 

Roman Guard 
How pale his face! 

Palace Servant 
His face is white with dust. O, his eyes ! . . . 
Look at his eyes. They are like the eyes of 
slaves that have been bored out by an angry 
master. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 199 

Roman Guard 
He has closed his eyes. He walks as if he were 
very tired. 

[Enter Levi and others.^ 

Levi 

(Priest) 

Pay our respects and bid Pilate give us an 
audience at once. 

Palace Servant 

I think he is eating his breakfast. \_Goes o/f.] 
[Enter Caiaphas, Annas, and other priests; also 
scribes, fuembers of the Council, elders, Pharisees, 
traders and money changers of the Temple, a few 
Temple guards, Roman soldiers and their captain 
guarding Jesus, and many others. As the action 
grows other persons enter, so that toward the 
end a great crowd is present,^ 

Levi 
A servant has gone to announce us. 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

Everyone be silent when the Governor appears, 
that he can hear what we are saying. 

Annas 

(Former High Priest) 

We wilKdemand his death. 

[Cries of approval from the crowd. '\ 



200 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

It is not wise with a smile to turn loose a dan- 
gerous fool. It is not wise to turn loose the Son 
of God. {^Laughter,'] 

JosiAS 

(Priest) 

Do not crowd together so. Spread out. 

l^There is a movement of the cromd along the 
balcony and along the pillars in front of the Court, 
Re-enter palace servant.^ 

Palace Servant 
The Governor is eating breakfast. He will 
hear you in the Judgment Hall when he has fin- 
ished eating. 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

We cannot enter the Judgment Hall to-day. 
Our Feast begins to-night. We should be unclean 
if we entered a gentile house to-day. Even a 
Roman servant should know that. Bid Pilate 
come upon the balcony. 

[^The palace servant goes off.l 

Annas 

(Former High Priest) 

[To the people. '\ There must not be any de- 
lay. We do not want any disturbance during the 
Feast. The rabble must not rise up again. Here 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 201 

is their leader. He has defamed Moses. He 
has claimed to be Messias. He is a worker of 
magic and says it is from God. He is a cor- 
rupter of religion. He is an enemy of Israel and 
Rome. These things have earned his death. 

' Caiaphas 

Are all the people agreed? 

Many Voices 
We are! . . . We are! . . . Down with the 
blasphemer, . . . false prophet, . . . defamer of 
religion, . . . defamer of Moses and the proph- 
ets! .. . 

Annas 

(Former High Priest) 

O that in my old age such poisoned weeds 
should grow beneath my feet! Look at him, you 
sons of Abraham. Are we to blot out Moses for 
this upstart god? 

The People 
No! . . . No! . . . Never! . . . 

Annas 

(Former High Priest) 

His hair is matted like a swineherd's and his 
face half stone, half flesh. Is this the thing two 
days ago some fools called Israel's king! Yet 
fools have lighted fires it took a thousand years 
to quench. 



202 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Voices 

We will quench his fire ! . . . Pilate will make 
short work of him ! . . . 

Annas 

(Former High Priest) 

He cleanses men, yet is himself as stench that 
rises from Gehenna. He forgives sin in his own 
name, as if he were the Lord — this Nazarene 
Messias! [Turning to Levi.~\ He was a car- 
penter by trade — was he not? 

Levi 

(Priest) 

Yes, a carpenter. 

[/« the midst of the Roman soldiers, in front 
of the balcony, stands Jesus. His face is very 
pale and his head cast down. Now and then he 
twists his hands, as if the cords were hurting his 
wrists, and his lips move, as if he were muttering. 
The bronze doors at the back of the balcony swing 
open, and Pilate, courtiers, and guards enter. 
Two of the guards descend and stand on the pave- 
ment. Two others stand at the head of the stairs. 
The crowd below is silent and bows as Pilate steps 
forward.^ 

Pilate 

You have summoned me upon the balcony. 
What is it? 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 203 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

Worthy Governor, we bring greetings and 
blessings. It is not our choice to be here at this 
early hour. But the cause is urgent. He that 
stands here bound has corrupted the people and 
must suffer. 

Pilate 

Take him and judge him according to your 
laws. Why do you bring him to me? 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

We have judged him, the Council has judged 
him, and he stands confessed and borne down with 
guilt. 

Pilate 
Did not Pompey, and Caesar after him, assure 
you the right to the execution of your own laws? 
Why do you bring this person before me? Take 
him and judge him. [Turns to go.~\ 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

Worthy Governor, tarry. We desire thy ap- 
proval of the sentence passed upon him. It has 
been judged that he shall die. But Caesar denies 
us the right without thy approval to put a man 
to death. 



204 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Fixate 
O, you want me to kill him! 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

We desire thy sanction to the sentence of the 
Council. 

Pilate 

What has he done? Let him stand forth. 
Let me see him. 

[The soldiers push Jesus forward on the pave- 
ment directly below the balcony. '\ 

Pilate 

He does not look dangerous. His face is very 
pale. Unbind his hands. An accused person 
need not be bound during trial. There are 
enough soldiers to guard him. 

[Some of the soldiers take the cords from Jesus* 
wrists.^ 

Levi 

(Priest) 

Worthy Governor, if he had not been a great 
criminal we should not have brought him here. 

Annas 

(Former High Priest) 

Time presses. We ask thy sanction to his 
crucifixion. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 205 

Pilate 
Why this haste? 

Annas 

(Former High Priest) 

On Feast days we may not punish anyone. The 
Passover begins to-night. It would be danger- 
ous to keep him alive in Jerusalem until the Feast 
is ended. He has followers, enemies of Rome 
and Israel, haters of law and religion. Men like 
him light fires of revolt. We ask thee to order 
him led to the cross. 

Pilate 

I will not kill a man without hearing the evi- 
dence. 

[Murmurs of dissatisfaction. The crowd is 
constantly growing.^ 

Several Voices 

[Shouting.^ He has been tried! . . . The 
Council has tried him I ... It has judged he 
should die! . . . We want only thy approval! 
thy approval, Pilate! . . . 

Pilate 
Stop shouting! else I will deny your petition 
at once and retire within. My ears are more 
yielding to quiet sounds. 



2o6 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Caiaphas 

(High Priest) 

\_To the crowd. ~\ Silence! Silence! [To Pi- 
late.] Bear with the people. They have suf- 
fered much by the deeds of the prisoner before 
you. His name is Jesus. He was a carpenter 
at Nazareth. Conceiving himself appointed by 
God, he has gone through the land preaching 
ridiculous doctrines. By tricks he has led the 
people to believe that he has power over the winds 
and the rain — even over death. For example, 
he has been heard to say that he can destroy the 
Temple and rebuild it in three days. He pre- 
tends by a word to cure the sick and to forgive 
sin and to drive out devils. He himself hath a 
devil which he conceives to be a god. . . . 

Pilate 

Has he murdered anyone? 

Caiaphas 

We have not heard that he has murdered any- 
one. 

Pilate 

Perhaps he is only a kindly madman. But for 
madness we cannot take away his life. . . . 

Annas 

[Interrupting.] Kindly! He is a disturber 
of the peace. He is a corrupter of the people. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 207 

Two days ago he caused an uproar in the Tem- 
ple. 

Pilate 

You have overseers in the Temple who com- 
mand enough guards to suppress any slight dis- 
turbance — have you not? 

Annas 
Slight disturbance! It was a riot! Here is 
one of the overseers. Let him tell what occurred. 

Jachin 

(Overseer) 

[/« a loud angry voice.~\ He and his band of 
murderers drove out the traders and changers, 
and beat them, and ... 

Pilate 

\_Annoyed.'\ Silence ! I will not have my ears 
split by such ridiculous cries. [To Annas.'] 
There are soldiers in the Tower of Antonia to 
quell any rioting in the Temple. 

Annas 
Here is a captain of thy guards. He can tell 
what happened. He was there. Wilt thou hear 
him? 

Pilate 

Let him say if there was any disturbance in the 
Temple. 



2o8 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 
[Stepping forward.^ It is true, Worthy Gov- 
ernor, that two days ago there was some rioting 
there, led by the Nazarene. 

Pilate 
[Sternly. ~\ He shall be punished for it. . . . 
[Shouts of approval.^ 

Pilate 
But not with death. 

[The shouts turn to murmurs of dissatisfac- 
tion.^ 

Caiaphas 

Bear with me a little longer, Worthy Gov- 
ernor, . . . 

Pilate 
Everybody be quiet ! I am trying to hear your 
High Priest. 

Caiaphas 

We have a Law and by that Law he should die. 
For many generations our fathers have handed 
down to us the pious Laws delivered by God him- 
self to Moses on Mount Sinai. 

All the People 

Blessed be his name ! . . . Blessed be the name 
of the Lord ! 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 209 

Caiaphas 

These holy Laws are the bread of our lives. 
Thou, Worthy Pilate, knoweth that. They have 
sustained our forefathers. They have sustained 
us from youth up. They are our religion. They 
are the words of God. 

All the People 
Blessed be his name! 

Caiaphas 

Now comes this ignorant carpenter of Naza- 
reth, named Jesus. He is one born with the habit 
of much talking. He has told the people every- 
where that our God-given laws are as nothing. 
He bids men and women do what he does, and 
forbear what he does not. He neither fasts nor 
obeys the holy laws of purifications. . . . 

Pilate 
He looks like a man who fasts overmuch. 

Annas 

No, he does not fast. We can prove he does 
not fast. 

Pilate 
I do not care to hear the proof. 

Caiaphas 
He does not observe the Sabbath. . . . 



210 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Annas 
Think of it, he does not observe the Sabbath! 
He does all manner of things upon the Sabbath. 
He says it is permitted of men to do anything 
they like upon the Sabbath. 

Caiaphas 

He does not offer sacrifice or practice Temple 
service. . . . 

Annas 
Dost thou hear, Governor? He does not offer 
sacrifice. How else can we obtain the mercies of 
God — wilt thou tell us that? 

Pilate 

I do not know the connection between burning 
meat and prosperity. I am no authority on your 
religion. Does your god like the smell of burn- 
ing meat? Never mind, we will not discuss the 
point. [To Caiaphas.^ Go on. 

Caiaphas 

He goes about with sinful men and with har- 
lots. On his own authority he forgives sin. . . . 

Annas 
Only God can forgive sin. 

Caiaphas 

O Worthy Governor, if thou wert one thou- 
sandth part a Jew, thou wouldst burn with anger 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 211 

against this fool. By our Law he should die. 
We ask thee, representative of our King Tiberius, 
that thou order him led to the cross. . . . 

The Crowd 

To the cross with him ! . . . To the cross with 
him ! . . . The Governor will deliver him ! . . . 
Pilate will deliver him ! . . . 

\^T he noise subsides. Pilate stands silent. All 
eyes are upon him.^ 

Annas 
\_After a pause, contemptuously .^ Why should 
this Nazarene workman, found guilty, be given a 
moment's thought by the Governor of Judea? 

Pilate 
\^Aroused.^ I will tell you why! When upon 
a recent occasion I ordered slain some rebels and 
conspirators who had outraged the laws of Cassar, 
there came such a cry of hate and malice from 
your very Council as filled my ears for days. It 
has been whispered that even now petitions against 
me are on their way to Caesar. Since you did not 
think my reasons sufficient for slaying these rebels 
and conspirators, I am determined now not to 
slay anyone by the request of your Council for 
poorer reasons! 

Annas 
If he lives then dies peace in Jerusalem! 



212 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Pilate 
[Sharply.^ I am able to take care of the peace 
of Jerusalem. \_Looking down upon Jesus.^ 
Moreover, look at your prisoner. I never saw a 
man more helpless. You yourselves have not said 
that he was ever armed with anything more deadly 
than words. Yet you would think he had no 
tongue in his head. He has not uttered a sound 
in his own defense. He has the pallor of one 
walking with death. Is he the sole cause of your 
summons of me? 

Caiaphas 
He is. 

Pilate 
I have decided. [Turns to go."] 

Levi 

(Priest) 

Governor! . . . 

Darphas 

(Priest) 

Worthy Governor ! . . . 

Saras 

(Scribe) 

Governor! . . . 

Pilate 
l^Turning.'] I can listen to but one at a time. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 213 

Saras 

(Scribe) 

There are other charges, graver than any yet 
mentioned. Wilt thou hear them? 

Pilate 
Go on. 

Saras 

(Scribe); 

This lover of harlots has gone up and down the 
country, in cities and towns, commanding all men 
to leave their fathers and mothers, wives and 
children, and all else, and follow him. How 
could there be any love of country if the people 
forsook all and ran after one man? Would not 
the authority of both Israel and Rome cease? Is 
not such a person an enemy of Israel and of Rome, 
and therefore worthy of death? 

Pilate 
How many followers has he ? 

Saras 
We do not know. 

Pilate 
He could not destroy patriotism until many per- 
sons followed him. 

Saras 
Such glittering doctrines of revolt against 



214 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

earthly authority and false promises of heavenly 
gold will spread rapidly among the people. 

Pilate 
But a man cannot be condemned for that which 
lies in the future. He can be judged for that 
only which lies in the past. 

Saras 
Hear me yet a little. I have said that he has 
proclaimed his authority above the authority of 
Israel and Rome. That lies in the past. And 
this also lies in the past. Two days ago he en- 
tered Jerusalem at the head of a ragged proces- 
sion, and was hailed by some of his followers, 
" Messias," '' Son of David," " King." 

Pilate 
Often a man's followers cry out against his 
will, giving him titles which he does not claim for 
himself. Some years ago at Rome when Ger- 
manicus had his triumph, several foolish persons 
cried out and called him Caesar. He had them 
quickly silenced. 

Saras 

This Galilean was commanded to silence his 
followers; but he would not, and said, " If they 
did not cry out, the very stones would cry out! " 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 215 

Levi 
Before us all in the Council. . . . 

Darphas 
He called himself a king. . . . 

Saras 
In the Temple also. . . . 

Many Persons 

We all, ... we all have heard him call him- 
self a king! . . . 

Pilate 
I will not listen to several at a time. 

Caiaphas 
\_To the crowd.'] Let Saras speak. 

Saras 
Worthy Governor, be not misled by his silence. 
He is humble now. But only yesterday, before 
all the people in the Temple, he told a parable of 
wicked vinedressers and the master of the vine- 
yard. He proclaimed himself the beloved son 
of the master of the vineyard of Israel. The 
wicked vinedressers had slain one after another 
of them sent by the master, and then he sent his 
beloved son. . . . 

Pilate 

[^Interrupting.] I do not care to hear any 
parables. 



2i6 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Saras 
This ignorant Galilean has declared himself 
Messias, the judge and king of Israel. 

Pilate 
Has he claimed to be each of these? 

Saras 

Messias will be our judge and king. He has 
said openly that he will judge Israel and deliver 
us from the kings of the world, which means, of 
course, deliver us from Caesar. 

Pilate 

\_Stepping forward again and looking down at 
Jesus.'] Have you told it about that you are a 
king or a judge of the Jews? 

\^There is talking and pushing about in the 
crowd in an endeavor to get near the balcony. 1 

Pilate 
[7*0 the people.] Be silent! I cannot hear 
him. [To Jesus.] Will you answer me? 

Jesus 
I have said It. 

Voices in the Crov^d 
[Heard above the outburst of noise.] He has 
said iti . . . He does not deny it! . . . What 
more is wanted? . . . To the cross! . . . Gov- 
ernor, to the cross with him ! . . . 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 217 

Pilate 

[Angered.] Silence! Silence! [To Jesus.~\ 
Have you anything else to say? [A pause.'] 
Fear has taken away his voice. I will speak with 
him alone. \_To the soldiers surrounding Jesus,] 
Two of you lead him up into the Judgment Hall. 
Perhaps there his voice will come back to him. 

[While Jesus is being led up the stairs to the 
balcony, and retires with Pilate and two soldiers 
through the bronze doors into the palace; Caia- 
phas, the priests, members of the Council, and the 
scribes, are in animated conversation.] 

Caiaphas 
[In a loud voice.] Hear me, all of you who 
love the Lord! Shall we accept this runner after 
unclean women as Messias? 

Many Voices 
No I . . . no ! . . . never I . . . never ! . . . 

Caiaphas 
Do we still hold to Moses? 

Many Voices 
Forever! . . . forever! . . . 

Caiaphas 
Shall he die who seeks to destroy our religion? 

Many Voices 
He shall die ! . . . He shall die ! . . . 



2i8 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Caiaphas 
Though you are commanded to be silent, after 
a little pause you shall cry out again and yet again 
for his death. 

Booz 

Will the Roman soldiers compel us to be silent? 
\_Caiaphas looks at Terreno.^ 

Terreno 
Is he whom you seek to crucify a Roman? 

Several Voices 

He is of no nation ! . . . He is a son of Beel- 
zebub ! . . . Withered be the breast that gave 
him drink! . . . 

Caiaphas 
[To the crowd.^ You are answered. In the 
days of our forefathers, he who in the morning 
sought to corrupt our religion, beheld not again 
the midday sun. [Reproachfully.^^ Some of you 
stand here like sheep and oxen, dumb and un- 
moved! Have you no fire within you . . . 
[indicating^ you and you standing there? 

Booz 
Worthy High Priest, some of us are going 
upon the streets to gather in the people, that our 
demands may be spoken in a louder voice. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 219 

Caiaphas 

Should you meet any of his followers, reason 
with them, that their eyes may be opened. Tell 
the people that a corrupter is in our midst, one 
who would pierce the eyes of our children, that 
they wander forever in darkness, one who has 
outraged the Holy Law, a Messias of rags, a 
companion of sinful men, a lover of harlots ! 

Booz 

[^Going out.~\ We will bring Jerusalem to the 
foot of the balcony! 

[^Traders, money changers, and many other 
persons follow Booz.^^ 

Caiaphas 

[Calling to them.~\ Lead thither the whole 
people. Let none turn aside. Pilate must hear 
the angered voice of Jerusalem! 

[During the foregoing, the voice of one push- 
ing through the crowd in the direction of the 
priests is heard calling, ^^ Father Meier! Father 
Meier! ''^ 

Annas 

Who is calling Father Meier? 

Judas 

[Surrounded by David the Damascene, Zara 
the Jerusalemite, Nathan the Galilean, and 



220 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

others.1 It is I, Judas of Kcrloth! Where is 
Father Meier? 

Levi 
I have not seen him. 

Darphas 
He is not here. 

Caiaphas 

It was you that led the guards upon the hiding 
place of the Nazarene — was it not? 

Judas 
It was I. Where is he? Where is Jesus? I 
do not see him.' 

Caiaphas 

He is in the Judgment Hall with Pilate. 

Judas 
You are asking Pilate to kill him! Is it true 
you are asking Pilate to kill him? 

Simeon 

[Pushing Judas hack.'] Is this the way to ad- 
dress the High Priest ? 

Caiaphas 

Do him no harm. 
[^Simeon releases Judas.] 

David 

(Damascene) 

[To Caiaphas.] May I speak a little? 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 221 

Caiaphas 

Be brief. 

[Caiaphas and several of the priests engage in 
conversation while David is speaking, '\ 

David 

\To the crowd.] None should do our Worthy 
High Priest injustice, or any of the priests and 
members of the Council. We look to them for 
wisdom and light. You are here asking Pilate to 
crucify Jesus, the Galilean teacher. Is it not 
true? 

Many Voices 
It is true ! . . . He shall die ! . . . The Gov- 
ernor will crucify him ! 

David 
Two days ago this Galilean drove the traders 
and changers from the Temple. 

A Voice 
He shall suffer for it I . 

David 

On that day many of you applauded the act. 
I ask you, was it a good or an evil act? 

Zara 

(Jerusalemite) 

The traders and changers abused the people. 



222 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Nathan 

(Galilean) 

They extorted money from the people. 

David 

I see standing here some who gave the Galilean 
aid. 

A Voice 
The traders desecrated the house of God ! 

David 
I honor our priests and councilors, and I love 
the Law, and I too gave him aid. Was it a good 
or an evil act to drive out the traders and 
changers from the house of God? 

A Voice 
It was a good act! 

David 
Has it changed in these two days? 

Caiaphas 

[Awakening to what is happening, anger ed.~\ 
Be silent! Who are you that comes as a friend 
and are a traitor? 

[Several persons surround David, as if to seize 
him, and others come forward in his defense.~\ 

Joseph 

(Arimathean) 

Worthy High Priest, let there be no violence! 
Pilate will not tolerate violence here ! 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 223 

Caiaphas 
Stand apart! We will have no blows struck! 

Joseph 

(Arimathean) 

This man's name is David. He is of Damas- 
cus. He is a pious man. 

Several Voices 
[^ A mid jeers and hisses. '\ Let him speak! . . . 
Let him speak! . . . 

David 
[To the people.^ I honor the priests. I 
honor the councilors. But is it right to crucify 
him because he made clean the house of God? 

[Some in the crowd cry out for the death of 
Jesus, and some that he shall not die.^ 

Caiaphas 

Silence, everyone ! It is true he drove out the 
traders and changers. We do not ask his death 
for that. The Council itself ere long again would 
have placed the traders and changers upon the 
street, as in the time of our fathers. We ask his 
death because he has announced himself to be 
Messias. Do you of Damascus, and some of you 
standing here that applauded his words, believe 
him to be Messias? 

David 

I know he is a great teacher. I know he 



224 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

preaches repentance and love toward one another. 
Perhaps some of his followers have said foolish 
things of him. 

Caiaphas 

Answer me ! Is he or is he not the Son of 
God? 

David 
He is not. Does he say he is? 

Caiaphas 

A moment since, here before all the people, he 
said it. 

David 

It is pitiful that he has said it. 

Judas 
O worthy priests, and friends and enemies of 
Jesus, he may yet show us that he is the Son of 
God! [Laughter and kisses.^ I have seen him 
still the sea when the storm beat upon it. I have 
seen the lame walk when he touched them. I 
have seen a man brought to life after he had been 
dead four days. [^More laughter. "l 

Annas 
You are mad with love of him. 

Judas 
O priests, he may yet free himself! There is 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 225 

yet time. God is watching. I am sure God is 
watching ! 

Caiaphas 
It is ridiculous. He cannot free himself. 

Judas 
But should he fail, you will not ask his death? 
I have seen him nurse the sick, and hunger that 
the poor might have to eat. 

Caiaphas 

He has claimed the place of Moses. He must 
die. 

[The crowd shouts approvaL'\ 

Joseph 

(Arimathean) 

Worthy High Priest, hear me a moment, and 
all you people hear me a moment. I am a Jew. 
I am a member of the Council. Moses is my 
lawgiver, and the religion of our fathers is my re- 
ligion. But am I perfect because I am a Jew and 
endeavor to obey the Law? On that day our 
mothers bear us are we the children of error. 
Who standing here is perfect? . . . 

Annas 
[Interrupting.^ Why are you multiplying 
words ? What have we to do with you ? 



226 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Joseph 
Bear with me a little longer. Has this Gali- 
lean said that he is the Son of Man spoken of by 
the prophet Daniel? 

Annas 
He has said it. All heard him. 

Joseph 
He has greatly erred. But have we not taught 
our children for generations that God will one 
day send us his son? How simple it is for a 
young man, in the years of his dreams, wander- 
ing over the hills in the twilight, brooding on the 
shortcomings of life, to feel within himself that 
the Lord has sent him to sweeten the ways of the 
bitter world! 

Levi 
He has declared himself to be Messias. 

Joseph 
He is not the first, nor will he be the last, to 
fancy himself touched with fire from the clouds, 
and called by heavenly voices in the night. And 
can you say, or can I say, that God has not whis- 
pered to him some things ? 

Levi 
Can any man improve the works of God ! He 
has sought to change our religion, 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 227 

Joseph 
He will not be the last. 

Levi • 
No man shall change our religion. Death shall 
be his reward. 

Joseph 
It would be better to let him live; for I have 
heard that he has also said, " Come to me you 
who are heavy laden and I will give you rest," 
and in the shadow of his love the poor have 
rested. 

Caiaphas 

Why should the poor rest in him? Who is 
he? . . . 

Joseph 

He alone hath bidden them come. 

Caiaphas 

Are you, too, persuaded to follow this Messias 
of rags — you a member of the Council? 

Joseph 

I do not follow him. But Israel has need of 
dreamers of other worlds and seers of sweeter 
days. Let us gently correct his error, and spare 
him for the love that is his. Why — I myself 
in youth once fancied that perhaps I. . . . 

[Caiaphas, interrupting, begins a violent 



228 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

speech, hut his voice is drowned by the shouts of 
many persons rushing in, led by Booz, Dathan 
and other traders and money changers. They 
call repeatedly for the death of Jesus.^ 

Caiaphas 

[To Joseph,'] Hear the voice of the people! 
The people are wise. 

[During the noise and confusion, Pilate and 
Jesus enter unobserved upon the balcony. Pilate 
speaks, but is not heard.] 

Caiaphas 
The Governor is on the balcony! Everyone 
be silent ! 

Pilate 
How can justice be done when you all are cry- 
ing out like men at the games I 

[While waiting for the noise to subside, he 
sends Jesus down the balcony stairs. As Jesus 
reaches the pavement, the priests move to one 
side, and he stands alone in the center of the 
mob.] 

Judas 
[At Jesus' back.] O Master, do it now! 

Jesus 
[Turning.] Judas, is it thou? 

Judas 
It is I, Master. Wait no longer ! If thou art 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 229 

dreaming wake up ! Send down the angels with 
sharp swords ! [Persons standing near Judas 
laugh at him.] If thou canst not, O tell the peo- 
ple before it is too late! Perhaps they will let 
thee go back to Galilee. 

Jesus 

[Lifting up his hands, in agony.] O Father I 
Father! . . . 

[The crowd jeers, drowning his voice.] 

Booz 
He is calling upon his father. 

KORA 
His father was a carpenter. 

A Voice 

Everybody be silent, so that we can hear what 
he is saying. 

Dathan 

Perhaps he wants his father to build him a 
ladder. 

Jacob 

He should call for a stonecutter to hew him 
out a tomb. 

Many Persons 

Away with him! . . . Away with him, blas- 
phemer ! 



230 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Pilate 
\^Angered.'\ High Priest, command your peo- 
ple to be orderly, else will I call the guards from 
the Tower. One would think that insurrection is 
breeding here. 

A Voice 
Perhaps it is I 

Caiaphas 

Be silent! Everybody be silent! Worthy 
Governor, do not take seriously the utterance of 
this madman. We make no insurrection. We 
are a peaceful people. 

Pilate 
I do not find any fault worthy of death in this 
Nazarene. 

\^The priests and scribes mutter excitedly among 
themselves, while the people stand silent in amaze- 
ment.^ 

Annas 
\^W rath fully.'] If a man proclaims himself 
king is he not an enemy of Rome? 

Pilate 

Any idler looking overmuch at the stars may 
think himself a king. In fact there are philoso- 
phers at Rome who say that every man is a king. 

Annas 
He has proclaimed himself a king. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 231 

Pilate 
But he says that his kingdom is not of this 
world. I do not know where it is. I think he 
does not know himself. Likely he is a king, a 
king of fools, whose words you have taken too 
seriously. 

Saras 
He is one who has the gift of words. His 
words are swords. His soft words are poisonous 
like the tongue of the adder. They are more 
dangerous than his hard words. 

Caiaphas 

Moreover, he says he is the king of Israel. 
Ask him, Worthy Governor, if he does not say 
he is the king of Israel. 

Pilate 

[Looking down at Jesus.^ Are you the king 
of Israel? 

Judas 

[In a loud whisper to J esiis.'\ Now, O Mas- 
ter, now! Answer him by a great deed! It 
would be wonderful to rise up a moment in mid- 
air! Or clap thy hands together thrice, and let 
a river of rain wash down upon us ! Then in a 
loud voice bid the rain cease, and let it be so ! . . . 

[The people laugh.^ 



232 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Pilate 
\_To Judas.l^ Stop talking. [To Jesus.'] 
Answer me. Do you say you are the king of 
Israel? 

Jesus 
I am he whom I have said. . . . 
[The people, jeering, drown his voice and 
crowd in upon him,] 

Pilate 

Captain, push back the people ! Silence ! Si- 
lence ! I want to hear what he Is saying. 

Terreno 
Back, back, I say, all of you! 

Caiaphas 
Everybody, stand back and be silent. 

Judas 
[To Jesus.] Now, Master, thou wilt do it! 

Jesus 
[Throwing his hands wildly into the air. In a 
voice of terrible agony.] Father, Father, now is' 
the hour! Fill with love the hearts of the peo- 
ple ! . . . [His voice is drowned in laughter and 
hisses.] 

Booz 

Call louder. Perhaps he did not hear you. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 233 

KORA 

Try again, Jesus. 

Jesus 
[Falling to his knees.] Father! Father! . . . 

Judas 

Master, how is it with thee ? 
\^Jesus starts, rises suddenly, and moves as if 
to walk away; but the crowd is walled around him 
on all sides, ~\ 

Booz 
Call again upon your father. Perhaps he is 
asleep. 

Pilate 

Silence with these taunts ! The man is ridicu- 
lous enough. 

Saras 
Worthy Governor, ... 

Pilate 
[Interrupting.] I will not hear any more ar- 
guments or restatements of the evidence. The 
man has been a disturber. He shall be punished. 
[The crowd cheers.] When he has been soundly 
scourged, perhaps he will no longer think that he 
is the king of Israel, or that your God is his 
father. I, therefore, order him scourged, after 
which he shall leave Jerusalem at once, and be 
free to go home. . . . 



234 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

[^The outbreak of dissatisfaction among the 
priests, each entreating Pilate in a loud voice, and 
the threatening cries of the mob, drown his voice. 
Pilate's gestures indicate that he is giving the sol- 
diers directions as to the scourging. The Roman 
soldiers, by Terreno's command, lay hold on 
Jesus, and hurry him of at left, followed by some 
of the crowd. Pilate retires into the palace, amid 
the clamoring of the priests and the uproar of the 
people.^ 

Caiaphas 

\_After the noise has subsided a little. ~\ Priests, 
scribes, elders, and councilors, gather here by 
Annas. Everyone else stand where he is. We 
will not give up until the Nazarene is on the 
cross. The blood of our ancestors is still in us. 

\^The priests, scribes, elders, and councilors 
gather around Annas, and engage in earnest dis- 
cussion.~\ 

Caiaphas 
[To the people.^ You all remember the silver 
eagles ! 

The Crowd 
We remember! . . . We remember! . . . 
Caiaphas 

For five days and five nights we cried aloud 
until the Romans removed the heathen images 
from among us. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 235 

The Crowd 
So will we now ! . . . We will not cease to 
cry out! ... 

Caiaphas 
Not till this enemy of God has tasted death. 

Levi 
[^Turning to Caiaphas and the people, confiden- 
tially.'] We have just now learned that it is whis- 
pered in the palace that Procula, Pilate's wife, 
has had a strange dream about the Nazarene. A 
foolish interpretation has caused Pilate to deny us. 

Annas 
O thou God of our fathers, must I in my old 
age behold Israel ruled by the dreams of a woman ! 

Many Voices 

No ! . . . no ! . . . no ! . . . 

[From now on, when there is a lull in the noise 
of the crowd, may he heard the measured blows of 
the scourges.] 

Darphas 
He does not cry out. Why does he not cry 
out? 

Amiel 
It may be he is still expecting God to help him. 



236 JESUS : A PASSION PLAY 

Caiaphas 

{^Turning to the priests, scribes, elders, and 
councilors, in a low voice. 1^ Pilate is not moved 
by dreams. Nor is he afraid of the Nazarene. 
He is punishing us for past deeds and schooling 
us for future use. But we will not be schooled 
by him! All of you go quickly among the peo- 
ple here and tell each to stand firm. Tell each to 
cry out for the Nazarene's death, and cry out 
again and again. We will shake these marble 
columns with the noise of our despair. This is 
still Israel and not Rome ! 

\^As the priests, scribes, elders, and councilors 
move through the crowd, all manner of cries are 
heard, '' We demand the death of Jesus! . . . 
Come hack, Pilate! . . . Come out again! . . . 
We hate cowardice! . . . We demand justice! 
. . . No honest men would rule us by the silly 
dreams of a woman! . . .'' etc. Presently the 
bronze doors violently swing open, and Pilate 
hastens to the front of the balcony. He raises his 
hand for silence. Order is slowly restored. The 
measured blows of the scourges are heard again.^ 

Pilate 
[Angrily.'] I ask you to be quiet and disperse. 
I have given my decision. [Many voices break 
out again.] Be quiet, or you will provoke me to 
call the guards from the Tower I 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 237 

The Crowd 

[Heard above the confusion and uproar.^ 
Call the guards ! . . . Call the guards ! . . . We 
do not care ! . . . We will not stop crying out 
till the Nazarene is dead! . . . 

\^There is much pushing about in the crowd, but 
none go away. During the noise and confusion, 
Pilate beckons Caiaphas to come to him. The 
two exchangj some words, Pilate talking very 
earnestly and pointing toward the people, and 
Caiaphas shaking his head.^ 

Pilate 

[Again raising his hand for order.^ You, 
High Priest, scribes, and elders, I ask you to 
command the people to be silent and disperse I 

[Another outbreak is beginning when Caiaphas 
motions for quiet.'] 

Caiaphas 
O Governor, the hearts of the people have 
been wounded! The God of the people has been 
blasphemed. Moses, the light of the people, has 
been spit upon! For ages our God has been a 
solace in dark hours. And we have had dark 
hours. This people has had dark hours. Is 
there anything in thy household here or back in 
Rome, O Governor, as dear to thee as our God 
is to us ? There is nothing that will still the voice 
of the people. I could not still it for more than 



238 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

a moment if I would. The guards from the 
Tower have no terror for them. They them- 
selves are more terrible in their love of God than 
the guards of the Tower in their love of Rome. 
The people seek only the love and forgiveness of 
their God. 

All the People 
Blessed be his name ! . . . 

Pilate 
Then I will remind you, High Priest, and all 
who are clamoring here, that this is the day on 
which it is the custom for me to release to you a 
prisoner. 

Caiaphas 

We have not forgotten it. 

Pilate 
Your High Priest says that you seek only the 
love and forgiveness of your God. Will not 
your love and forgiveness include this foolish man 
whose back is bleeding yonder, as you expect the 
love and forgiveness of your God to include 
you? ... 

Several Persons 
No ! ... no ! ... no ! 

Pilate 
Silence ! I have not finished. I have heard in 
the palace that he often has been seen from the 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 239 

palace windows going about quietly, as if in a 
state of dreams, with his humble followers. And 
I have heard that men say he gives to the poor 
and does not seek gain for himself. 

Caiaphas 

The people will have Barabbas released, not 
Jesus. 

Priests and Scribes 
Release Barabbas! Barabbas! . . . 

Pilate 
You are not the people. I will hear the peo- 
ple. [To the crowd.} Will you have Jesus or 
Barabbas released? 

The People 

Barabbas ! . . . Barabbas ! . . Barabbas ! . . . To 
the cross with Jesus ! . . . 

[Judas has entered from the left, and works his 
way through the crowd to the balcony just below 
Pilate.} 

Judas 
Governor, O Governor, release Jesus! A ter- 
rible wrong. . . . 

The People 

[Drowning the voice of Judas.} We will have 
Barabbas released! . . . Barabbas! . . . Barab- 
bas! . . . 



240 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

\_Judas is roughly handled while the crowd is 
calling for Barahbas; he is pushed off at left, 
toward the place where the soldiers are scourging 
Jesus.^ 

Pilate 

I shall send for Barabbas, that you may behold 
standing together a murderer and one whose only 
fault seems to be that he has looked overmuch at 
the stars. 

[y/j Pilate turns to retire into the palace, the 
soldiers, followed by a noisy crowd, bring in Jesus. 
He is tottering, his back is covered with blood, 
and his face is white, like the face of a dead per- 
son. Surrounded by soldiers, he stands trembling 
in front of the balcony.^ 

Pilate 
[/w disgust.^ Behold your king! [^Enters 
the palace.^ 

The Priests 
We have no king but Caesar! . . . 

Caiaphas 
Scribes, priests, elders, and councilors, follow 
me. We must take counsel of one another. The 
hours are passing. We must quickly finish this 
holy work. [7*0 the crowd.l Everyone remain 
where he is, while we step aside a little to think 
among ourselves. O children of generations of 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 241 

holy men, If you remain steadfast, nothing can 
stay the hand of God! 

The People 

We win remain steadfast! . . . We will be 
faithful! . . . 

[The priests, scribes, elders, and councilors, 
following Caiaphas, push their way out at right, 
Jesus is alone in the midst of the people and sol- 
diers. They stand staring at him.^ 

Booz 

(Trader) 

[To Terreno.l Captain, we would worship 
our new king. 

Several Persons 

Let us worship our new king ! Let us worship 
him! . . . 

[A spirit of merriment takes hold of the 
crowd.~\ 

Terreno 

(Captain Roman Guards). 

Stand back, all of you! [The guards push 
hack the people.'] Does he look like a king? 

KORA 

(Money dianger) 

He looks precisely like a king. His back Is 
covered with a scarlet cloak. 



242 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Benjamin 

(Trader) 

But he has no crown. 

Dathan 

(Money Changer) 

O Captain, send a soldier to fetch a crown for 
him. Yonder by the fountain are bushes. A 
green crown will be very becoming. Ancient 
kings wore emerald studded crowns — did they 
not? Perhaps Caesar himself has one. I am 
sure Caesar has one. Jesus shall have everything 
that Caesar has. 

Several Persons 
A crown, ... a crown for our king ! . . . 

Terreno 

[To the soldiers,'] The Jews will honor their 
king. We will not deny them. Fetch a branch 
from yonder bush for a crown. [ Taking a cloak 
from the hack of one of the soldiers.] And here 
is a robe for the king. It is scarlet. It should 
be purple. Caesar's robes are purple. 

Booz 

It has a purple border. It is like enough to 
Caesar's. Put it on him. We must not be too 
particular. 

A Voice 

Here is a reed. The king must have a scepter. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 243 

Terreno 

[Throws the cloak over the shoulders of Jesus 
and ofers him the reed. He pays no attention.~\ 
Take the scepter, king! 

Booz 

Take the reed, Messias, or by Abraham we will 
not worship you ! 

[There is pushing about, talking and laughing 
among the people; the traders, money changers, 
and others mingle freely with the Roman soldiers 
surrounding Jesus,~\ 

A Soldier 
[Striking Jesus a sharp blow across the 
knuckles.^ Take the scepter, do you hear? 
[Jesus takes the reed.^ 

Another Soldier 
Hail, king of the Jews ! 

Terreno 

O noble king, will you be bathed to-day in the 
dark wine fetched from the port of Syracuse, or 
in the yellow milk of the wild goats of Arabia? 

[The crowd cheers. ~\ 

A Soldier 

[Plucking at his beard."] Will you have your 
hair touched a bit with dust of gold? You do not 
answer. You are too modest for a king. At 



244 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

least your eyelashes — that will please the young 
women who admire you. 

Booz 
Captain, I too would worship him. 

The Crowd 
And I ! . . . and 1 1 ... let us all worship 
him! 

Terreno 

Order, stand back; or I will stop the cere- 
monies ! Form a line, then all may pay him some 
noble praise. 

l^The Jews and soldiers form a line, amid mer- 
riment and many acclamations of ^' Hail, King! 
Hail, King of Israel! '^] 

Dathan 

Wait, here comes the crown-bearer. 
\^One pushes his way in and hands Terreno a 
branch of green leaves drawn into a circle.^ 

Terreno 
Order, silence! I will crown your king. 
[Hesitates.~\ This crown has thorns. 

The Crowd 
Crown him ! Crown him ! . . . 

Booz 
The thorns will hold it fast to his head. It is 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 245 

a good thing to have thorns on a crown. All 
crowns ought to have them. 

Terreno 
\_Placing the branch of leaves upon the head of 
Jesus.^ Now each as he passes may pay him 
some noble praise. Move quickly, and let your 
speech be brief, that all may honor him. 

A Soldier 
[Kneeling.~\ King of Israel, Caesar invites 
you to Rome. [Arises, takes the reed from the 
hand of Jesus, strikes him across the face with it, 
and hands it back.^ 

KORA 

[Kneeling.J O King, bring back. . . . 

Terreno 
You are kneeling in blood. 

KoRA 

\_Moving aside. ~\ O King, give back my money 
which thou didst scatter over the floor of the 
Temple. [Spits upon him.^ 

Terreno 
Make haste, pass on, that each may have his 
turn. 

Booz 
[Kneeling.'] Messias, bring back my eleven 
sheep that thou didst hurl into the valley of the 



246 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Temple and kill. [Arising, strikes him viciously 
on the face. Jesus staggers and is about to fall, 
hut is held up by several persons. The crowd 
cheers.^ 

Terreno 
[Pushing Booz away."] I will not have him 
worshipped so ardently. Let your devotion be 
measured by moderation. The man must still be 
on his feet when the Governor returns. 

Jacob 

O King, bring back out of the air my doves 
which thou didst frighten away on the day before 
yesterday ! 

A Soldier 

[Kissing a corner of the cloak covering Jesus.^ 
O King of the Jews, since I have seen thee, the 
gods of Rome do not charm me any longer. But 
thy crown is not on straight. [Straightens the 
crown, and presses it firmly on the head of Jesus, 
until the blood trickles down his face.^ So, that 
is better ; it should sit firmly upon thy noble brow. 
[The crowd cheers again.~\ 

[Judas has climbed part way up the stairs lead- 
ing to the balcony. '\ 

Judas 
[Calling down to Jesus.^ O Master, Jesus, 
Master! . . . 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 247 

Benjamin 
What grief in this man's words ! Is he a fol- 
lower of Jesus? 

Booz 
It was he that led us last night to the hiding 
place of our new king. Let him worship our new 
king. 

Judas 
Master, O Master! \_Jesus turns toward 
Judas.'l They are killing thee! Save thyself! 

Several Persons 
Save thyself ! . . . Call again to the sky ! . . . 
Do a great miracle and we will believe in thee! 
. . . We will carry the news through Israel and 
the world! 

Booz 
Save yourself! Did you not tell the people 
that you will one day sit on the right hand of 
God and judge Israel? When you are dead, we 
will tear your flesh and burn it to ashes, that you 
may not be gathered together again in all eternity. 

Jesus 
[Dropping the reed and lifting his hands, in 
terrible agony.'] Father, Father, forsake me not! 
Look upon me ! I bleed, I die ! . . . \_Sinks to 
the pavement.] 



248 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Judas 

\^As several persons lift Jesus.^ O Master, 
give up thy folly! Arouse thyself! Thy mother 
and brothers grieve for thee. Tell the people 
thou art not he whom thou hast said. They are 
killing thee ! 

A Voice 

This fellow is a follower of the Nazarene. 
Let us take him. Let us scourge him ! 

\_Judas is dragged down the stairs, and the 
noise turns to uproar.^ 

Terreno 

We will have no fighting here! Order! Si- 
lence ! Stand back ! 

[^The soldiers interfere and Judas rushes out. 
Caiaphas, priests, elders, scribes, and councilors 
re-enter from right.^ 

Booz 
Let us go on with the ceremonies. \_Strikes 
Jesus on the face with the reed, then replaces it 
in his hand.] O noble King! . . . 

Caiaphas 

[Approaching.] What are you doing with 
him? I will not allow this mockery. I will not 
allow it! We do not punish blasphemers with 
mockery. Take the cloak from his shoulders and 
the leaves from his head. 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 249 

[y/5 the people move back, and the soldiers 
again surround Jesus, the bronze doors open, and 
several guards and a prisoner enter. His hands 
are bound, and he is clothed in torn garments. 
His eyes are nervous and his face hard and pale. 
He is led to the front of the balcony. Pilate fol- 
lows.'] 

Many Persons 
\_Shouting.] Barabbas! . . . Barabbas! . . . 

Pilate 

Silence! [To the guards below. 1 Bring the 
Nazarene upon the balcony. 

[Jesus totters slowly up the stairs between two 
soldiers and is placed by the side of Barabbas.] 

Pilate 

\_To Terreno.] Your men have overdone the 
scourging. 

Terreno 

Worthy Governor, he was not strong when they 
began. 

Pilate 
His back is bleeding as if it had been cut with 
sabers. [To the people.] According to the 
custom, I shall release a prisoner. The people 
shall choose. I will have the people speak 
freely. I will not have anyone frighten or in- 
struct the people. I will not hear the voice of 



250 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

the priests coming from the lips of the people. 
Even now, while I am speaking, I see priests and 
councilors whispering here and there. I do not 
know what they are whispering; but I will hear 
the voice of the people, and not the voice of the 
priests and councilors. . . . Behold these two 
men! One an enemy of Rome, a leader of a 
band of murderous rebels; the other a poor but 
man-loving fool who fancied himself to be a god. 
Choose. . . . 

The People 

[Loud and continuously. ~\ Barabbasl Ba- 
rabbas ! Barabbas ! . . . 

Pilate 

\_Lifting his hands and motioning for silence.'] 
Enough ! You have spoken. I release Barab- 
bas, a rebel and conspirator. [To the guards.] 
Unbind him, send him down to the people. 

[There are loud cheers for Barabbas as he 
descends the balcony.] 

Annas 
The charges against him were exaggerated. 

Pilate 

I will not hear the point debated. I have re- 
leased him — have I not? [To the people.] 
As for this other man, this man of strange fan- 
cies, this Nazarene, tottering here, besmeared In 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 251 

his own blood, has he not suffered enough? Has 
he not . . . 

The People 

[Drowning the voice of Pilate.'] Crucify him! 
Crucify him ! To the cross with him ! . . . 

[Pilate lifts his hands for order, but the people 
continue to cry out until Caiaphas motions them 
to be silent.] 

Caiaphas 

Governor, is it not better that one man shall 
die than that Jerusalem shall be in uproar and 
discontent? The highest court In Israel has con- 
demned this king of the Jews, this blasphemer of 
the God of Israel, this rebel against the authority 
of Rome. The people demand his death. It 
would not sound well in the ears of Caesar, should 
he be told that the tumult in Jerusalem arose be- 
cause his honored representative had sheltered and 
protected one who denied the authority of Rome, 
claimed for himself the right to judge the people, 
and declared himself the king of Israel. 

Pilate 
l^Irritated.] Do you tell me, before my eyes, 
at the door of my palace, within sight of my sol- 
diers, that you will send complaints to Tiberius? 

Caiaphas 

1 will not send complaints. But there are many 



252 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

thousands of persons from many lands now gath- 
ered in Jerusalem. The clamors of discontent 
have swift-running feet. Moreover, if there is 
rebellious uproar here, will not Tiberius inquire 
the cause? What amazement will be his when he 
ponders, " A rebel against my authority is fos- 
tered by my Governor " ! 

Pilate 

You have not proven the Nazarene a rebel. 
You have proven that he is a man who thinks he 
sees things other persons do not see, a dreamer, 
one who has said something about your religion 
you do not like. Is that not true? 

\_The people hiss.'\ 

Caiaphas 

Would Tiberius pause to make fine distinctions 
should the tumult of rebellion touch his ears? 

Pilate 
[^An^ered.l Do you threaten me with rebel- 
lion? 

Caiaphas 

I do not threaten; but the people now gathered 
in Jerusalem — who will stop the cries of the 
discontented people? 

Pilate 
[In disgust.'] Take your king. . . . Crucify 
him! 



THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE 253 

[Turns and re-enters the palace. Amid the 
deafening cheers of the crowd, Jesus is dragged 
from the balcony, and hurried of at left, sur- 
rounded by soldiers and followed by all the peo- 
ple, many crying out amid the uproar, '^ To the 
cross! . . . To the cross with him! . . /' 
After a time the cries grow fainter and fainter. 
Then silence. ~\ 

CURTAIN. 



ACT V 
THE RESURRECTION 



PERSONS IN ACT V 



Joseph, an Arimathean 
Two Servants of Joseph 
Joanna 
Salome 



Terreno, Captain of the 

Roman Guards 
Mary, a Magdalene 



ACT V 

It is just before daybreak of the second morn- 
ing following. The outlines of a few trees and 
bushes are discernible, and at back and left the 
beginning of a cragged cliff. As the action pro- 
ceeds, the coming dawn lights the scene a little. 

[Three men enter from the right and go toward 
the cliff.] 

Joseph 

Here Is the tomb. Put down the bier. Here, 
by the side of the Holy City, had I thought to lie 
in my last sleep. But now my mind is changed. 
This city is no holier than any other. Here mad- 
men live, as elsewhere; and here blind and re- 
vengeful men rule. This task done, we shall go 
back to Arimathea. 

One of the Men 

[Setting down the bier.~\ Master Joseph, we 
laid him in the tomb only the evening before last. 
Why do we take him out again? 

Joseph 
[After looking about.] My wife and children 
have given me no peace since we laid him here. 
They say I have dishonored and defiled our tomb. 

257 



258 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

All day yesterday they begged me to take him 
away. You two have served me till now we are 
old men. Tell me, have I dishonored my tomb ? 

One of the Men 
Master, he was also a thief — was he not? 

Joseph 
Do they say he was a thief? 

The Other Man 

He was nailed to the cross between two 
thieves. They say he was a fool who thought he 
was a prophet. Some say he thought he was 
Messias. 

\_They begin to unroll white cloths and lay 
them over the bier and beside the tomb.'\ 

Joseph 
Wait, be silent. Hear you anything? 
[J pause."] 

One of the Men 

I hear something yonder. {^Points toward the 
tomb.] 

The Other Man 

I also hear something. It is above the tomb, 
by the trees. 

Joseph 
Do you think some one is coming? 
\_A pause.] 



THE RESURRECTION 259 

One of the Men 
It sounds as if some one were walking over 
dead leaves in the autumn, or like the fluttering 
of green leaves in the trees. 

The Other Man 

Perhaps it is a bird beating the night with its 
wings. I do not think anyone is coming. 

Joseph 
It is no one. 
\^They continue spreading out the white cloths.^ 

Joseph 
Come, let us throw back the stone from the 
door. \^The three place themselves on the sides 
of the stone.'} Now, together. [The stone falls 
iO the earth, making a loud noise."] 

One of the Men 
Master! ... 

Joseph 
Wait a little, do not move or speak. 
l^There is silence, except a little noise now and 
then in the trees, as a fluttering of leaves.] 

Joseph 
We must not be seen. 

One of the Men 
Master Joseph, from youth you have done all 



26o JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

your deeds in the open. Why do we take him 
out while it is dark? Why do we not wait till 
the breaking of dawn? 

Joseph 
[^Bending down and looking into the tomh,^ 
Come here and look within. It is whispered on 
the streets by some of his followers that he lying 
yonder will rise up and live again. 

One of the Men 
[Shrinking hack.^ Master Joseph, it is 
frightful! I do not like to think in the night of 
anybody arising from the dead. 

Joseph 
[Drawing the bier nearer the door and re-ar- 
ranging the cloths.^ Some of them that con- 
demned him at the trial said, that if they heard it 
reported that he would rise from the dead, they 
would tear his flesh and burn it to ashes, that he 
might not be gathered together again in all eter- 
nity. That is why I sought out the lonely place 
where you have dug his grave. We shall hide 
him in the earth, that no man shall know where 
he lies, not even his followers, for they would be- 
tray the place. 

One of the Men 
O Master, do not go into the tomb. Perhaps 
he will arise from the dead while you are within. 



THE RESURRECTION 261 

Joseph 
[Entering. '\ Come, we will take him out. 
[The other man follows Joseph. They are 
heard talking. Then there is silence. ~\ 

The Man Outside 
[Calling softly.'] Master. 

The Other Man 
[Looking out of the door of the tomb.'] Do 
not call him. He is on his knees. He is weep- 
ing. 

The Man Outside 
The dead man — does he stir? does he move? 

The Other Man 

He does not stir. 

[After a brief pause, Joseph and the man carry 
out Jesus and lay him on the bier. The two men 
remove the cloths that were about him, toss them 
back into the tomb, and wrap him in the fresh 
cloths they have brought. Joseph stands by in 
silence.] 

One of the Men 

Master, it is done. Shall we take him to the 
grave? [Joseph still stands silent.] Master, 
we have finished. Shall we take him away? 

Joseph 
Not yet. Walk aside a little; and when I call 



262 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

you, come back to me. For a moment I will 
stand here alone. 

[The two men go of at left,'] 

Joseph 
[Beside the bier.'] Farewell, strange youth, 
farewell. But two days ago thou wast a flaming 
scythe that mowed down the weeds in the Tem- 
ple. Now how still thou liest! What will they 
say in Galilee when thou comest not again ? They 
will miss thy sad sweet face, thy soft voice in the 
evening, and thy dreaming eyes, that had looked 
into the kingdom of God. The poor will miss 
thee. They have so few to care for them. Thy 
image will come to them in the twilight, and in 
the night-time they will dream they touch thy 
hand. A little while only will the world remem- 
ber thee. It has always been so. Thou Jesus, 
hadst thou known better the ways of life, it might 
have gone less ill with thee. But thine eyes were 
in the stars. Thou wast love and fire and storm 
and love again. God made thee to strive. ^A 
flame he set within thy breast. Thou couldst not 
quench it. Thou wast a harp the world smote 
roughly, a reed that harsh winds broke in twain. 
O, Israel had need of thee and the better world 
which thou didst see in dream! Grasping and 
disputing priests and senseless ceremonies have 
made her loveless. Thy heart was full of love, 



THE RESURRECTION 263 

but thou art dead. Farewell, sweet ardent 
youth; the twilight hills will miss thee, and the 
sunlit lanes of villages will not again kiss thy 
sandaled feet. And I, an old man, shall miss 
thee. In thee I saw again my youth, and thought 
I heard again the far voices singing, and almost 
heard my early God whispering behind thy words. 
While in their thoughtless beds thy murderers 
sleep, thou also sleepest. Yet if God, remember- 
ing still thy yearning soul, with balm of peaceful 
rest heal up thy cloven side, and send down 
warmth to pierce the earth and creep into thy 
grave, thou wilt come forth whole and strong; 
for I shall hide thee in the earth from them that 
crave to tear and burn thy flesh. O God of 
Abraham, may I have died ere thou avenge this 
blood-dripping piece of earth! In the days of 
judgment, what curse wilt thou not send upon 
vain Jerusalem, that one day loveth a man and 
the next crucifieth him I Thou sleepest from thy 
weariness. The sun of thy brief day is set ere 
noon. I too am weary. I am old, my day is 
in the evening twilight; and hushed for me will 
be the far off music of hope and the still whispers 
in the night, and broken the promise of the moon, 
when I shall sit and mourn. Farewell, gentle 
Galilean. I thought to serve thee better than to 
dig thy grave. Forgive me. . . . How still thou 
liest ! 



264 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

One of the Men 
[^Entering hurriedly.^ Master, three are com- 
ing yonder. 

Joseph 
Take up the body. 

The Other Man 

{^Struggling to replace the stone before the door 
of the tomh.~\ Help me to put back the stone. 

Joseph 

Let it lie. Come away. 

[Joseph goes off at left, followed by the men 
carrying the body. There is now the first faint 
light of breaking day. At intervals a soft wind 
rustles the leaves. After a pause, three women 
enter at right. ^ 

Joanna 

I think we have lost our way. 

Salome 
Mary, have we lost our way? 

Mary 

(Magdalene) 

Is not yonder the tomb? {Sobs."] 

Joanna 

Do not weep. It sounds terrible in the night 
to hear anyone weeping. 



THE RESURRECTION 265 

Salome 
You weep too much. [Coming to her.'\ You 
are trembling like a leaf in the wind. 

Mary 
I will not weep any more. 

Joanna 
Let us not go nearer the tomb till it is light. 
Let us anoint him in the dawn. I am afraid to 
go nearer till it is light. 

Salome 
Why are you afraid? He lies dead within. 

Mary 
I have brought ointment of myrrh. It will 
make his body sweet like the body of a child. 

Joanna 

I have spice of aloes. My husband brought it 
from the larder of the Tetrarch. And I have 
oil. Perhaps I have too much oil. When we 
have finished, he will lie in the tomb like a sleep- 
ing child. 

Mary 

Like a child sleeping in leaves of lilies that the 
shepherds gather in the summer mornings. In 
the whole world there was no one like to him. 
He was a rose blooming amid stones. He was 
like the breaking of dawn in the springtime, and 



266 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

like the twilight of the setting sun in the harvest 
time. When he touched me I grew still within. 

Joanna 

I can see him near me all the time when it is 
night. 

Mary 

I too see him in the night. When he spoke 
to me in the days that are gone, I thought of far 
off things, as if there were other happy worlds; 
and I forgot my evil deeds, and was a child again, 
the world new-born and full of love. Always 
when I saw him I remembered a beautiful dream 
I had when I was a child. 

Joanna 

My husband says I must not think of him too 
much. He says it is not good to think of him too 
much. 

Salome 

Come, let us begin. It is growing lighter. 
How will we push away the stone? 

Joanna 
I am afraid. Let us wait a little. I can still 
see him hanging on the cross, the blood dripping 
from his face. [Star ties. ~\ What is that yon- 
der? 



THE RESURRECTION 267 

Salome 
I see nothing. 

Mary 
[Goin^ forward a little.'] Is not some one in a 
robe of white sitting by the tomb? Is not some 
one talking in a low voice there by the tomb ? 

Salome 
I do not see anyone. 

Joanna 
Mary, do not go nearer. Perhaps it will come 
upon you. Perhaps it is an evil spirit that 
watches near the dead in the night. 

Mary 
[Approaching the tomb.] 1 think it is a good 
spirit. I can not understand what it is saying. I 
am trembling too much to understand. 

Joanna 

Mary, do not go any nearer. 

Mary 
I cannot see it now. But look I The stone 
has been thrown from the door I [Looking into 
the tomb.J I cannot see him, he is gone, they 
have taken him away! [Sobs.] O, they have 
taken away him I love ! I shall never see him 
again ! 



268 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Joanna 

Come, come, let us not stay here ! Let us go 
home. Perhaps the spirits of dead men that were 
evil have taken him away. 

Mary 

Perhaps he in a white robe by the tomb was 
telling us where they have taken him; but we 
with dead ears could not understand. 

Salome 
Come, we shall go back and tell them that he 
is gone. 

Joanna 
No, no, we will not tell anybody. I am afraid 
to tell anybody. Come, Mary! Do not stay 
here any longer! 

Salome 

Come, come, Mary! 
\^Both women hurry of.~\ 

Mary 
[^Sobbing by the tomb.'] O Father, tell me 
where they have laid him! . . . 

A Voice 
Mary. 

Mary 

Who is calling me ? It is dark. I cannot see. 
]^Enter Terreno.'] 



THE RESURRECTION 269 

Terreno 
It is I, Terreno. 

Mary 
They have taken him away. 

Terreno 
Your prophet? 

Mary 
Him you murdered. 

Terreno 
I am a soldier, I live to obey. 

Mary 

He is gone! 

Terreno 

Mary, I have searched for you since the night 
before last, when I hastened away leaving you 
alone by the city gate. What said the guards 
that had been following us when they came upon 
you? 

Mary 

They dragged me forth, and the next day 
sought to stone me in the Temple, for sins I have 
been guiltless of since the first hour I saw him who 
told me of the love of God. He forbade them to 
stone me, and none dared disobey him. Now he 
is dead! He is gone! I cannot find him! 
l^Sobs again.'\ 



270 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 
Do not weep any more. 

Mary 
I hear a noise yonder. 

\_A pause.'l 

Terreno 
I do not hear anything. 

Mary 

It sounds as if within the tomb. 

Terreno 
It is above the tomb — only an idle wind 
grumbling in the trees. 

Mary 
I hear some one speaking. Do you hear any- 
one? 

Terreno 
I do not hear anyone speaking. 

Mary 

Do you see anyone yonder? 

Terreno 

I do not see anyone. It is yet too dark to see 
very far. 

Mary 

I wish it were light. 



THE RESURRECTION 271 

Terreno 

I am sure it Is no one. It is the wind In the 
trees. 

Mary 

[Lifting her hands. 1 O Father, art thou tell- 
ing me where he lies? Am I yet too sinful to 
understand thy voice? 

Terreno 
Magdalene, forget these fevered days. You 
waste your youth in tears. [Tries to take her 
hand.] 

Mary 
O, do not touch me ! Your hands are red with 
blood. Look upon your hands. Are they not 
still red? 

Terreno 
My hands are clean. I laid them not upon 
him. He was not a son of your God. He was 
not Messias. 

Mary 
He saved me from sin. 

Terreno 
He could do nothing for himself. How could 
he do anything for another? When one of his 
followers at the trial bade him free himself, he 
could do nothing. He called upon your God, but 
your God did not listen to him. One act by a 



272 JESUS : A PASSION PLAY 

hand from the sky, and Jerusalem would have 
fallen at his feet. But there was nothing. The 
sky smiled with sunlight, as if the trial had been 
a feast. 

Mary 

I will not listen to you. 

Terreno 
You will listen to me till I have finished. Per- 
haps you will open your eyes. A man standing 
by the cross cried out so that all the people could 
hear, '' If you can destroy the Temple and re- 
build it in three days, save yourself. If you are 
Messias, come down from the cross." And all 
the people called out to him, bidding him come 
down, and they would believe In him. But he 
did not come down. A scribe cried out to him, 
*' You fool, you trusted in God. Now let him 
set you free. Did you not say you are the son 
of God? Can you not come down from the 
cross? " All the people scoffed him and laughed 
at him. Even one of the thieves hanging by his 
side mocked him and cursed him. 

Mary 
O, speak no more ! 

Terreno 
Many times he cried out with his eyes fixed on 
the sky. Each time the people broke forth with 



THE RESURRECTION 273 

laughter and curses. I think he was expecting 
your God to come down and help him. At last 
he saw that the heavens had no thought of him, 
and he cried out, " My God! my God! why hast 
thou forsaken me ! '* It was a terrible cry of 
anguish. I never had heard such a cry of an- 
guish. The people standing almost under him 
and around him, startled and moved back; and 
none mocked him any more. He was dead. I 
too then pitied him. 

Mary 

[fVeepin^.l O, speak no more! 

Terreno 
Magdalene, he Is dead, but we live. We will 
not speak of him again. We will not think of 
him again. We will think of ourselves, and 
sometime you and I will drink again to the lees 
the wine of the cup of life. 

Mary 

No, no! 

Terreno 

Stop weeping, Magdalene. Listen to me. I 
have bought for you two silver anklets, fastened 
together with a chain of gold, that will ring like 
little bells when you walk. You have seen them 
on the ankles of the daughters of rich priests. 
In Pisldia I have heard they are worn on the 



274 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

ankles of young princesses only. No one else is 
allowed to wear them. 

Mary 
They are not for me. . . . 

Terreno 
Yes, they are for you. You shall have sandals 
from Laodicea. The kind that have gold cords 
and white soles, as white as the snow that Pilate 
puts in his wine, as white as the marble that the 
priests walk on in the Inner Temple. But when 
you dance for me you will take off the sandals. 
Your naked feet are more beautiful than sandals. 

Mary 
I will not dance again. 

Terreno 
Yes, yes, you will dance again. 

Mary 
Look — some one is staring at us I 

Terreno 
Where? 

Mary 
Yonder. 

Terreno 
It is nothing. Listen to me. Look at me 
while I am talking to you. . . . You shall hang 



THE RESURRECTION 275 

upon yourself a veil from Arabia, one that is as 
thin as air, and the color of one that Procula lays 
over her breast when she goes forth in her litter 
in Caesarea on a summer morning. You shall 
look like a young princess. Men will tremble at 
your beauty. 

Mary 
I will put on none of these things. . . . 

Terreno 
Yes, you will put them on. And I have a gir- 
dle for you. It has a clasp of carved silver. In 
the center is an eye of amethyst. And on the 
nights of the days you wear it, you will dream of 
pleasant things. 

Mary 

Why this rush of gifts? 

Terreno 
You are changed, Magdalene. You are more 
beautiful than ever. 

Mary 

It is the love of unearthly things he whom you 
murdered taught me. I am dead to sin. 

Terreno 
He is dead that came between us. 

Mary 
He has saved me from sin. But they have 



276 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

taken him away, and I do not know where they 
have laid him. O, I am tired, I am trembling ! 

Terreno 

Sit here and rest. I too pitied him. . . . But 
let us not speak of him any more. Let us not 
think of him any more. 

[They sit on a stone at right.^ 

Mary 

[^Starting up.^ I must not sit. I must rise. 
I hear voices calling me to rise. 

Terreno 
I hear nothing. From whence the voices that 
are calling you? 

Mary 

Yonder — yonder toward the breaking day. 
They are calling me. I can hear them. Come, 
we will hunt the place where they have laid him. 
Perhaps it is he that is calling me. Perhaps he is 
calling from the tomb. I hear a voice yonder in 
the tomb. It is the voice of a dead man ! \^Goes 
toward the tomb.^ 

Terreno / 

[Following her.^ It is the sound of the city 
waking in the dawn. You are stirred, your 
words are wild. Be still a little. 



THE RESURRECTION 277 

Mary 

\_Looks into the tomb and shrinks hack.~\ 
Some one Is sitting within — some one dressed In 
white ! Look within ! 

Terreno 
I can sec no one. \^Goes inside the tomb.^ 

Mary 

See you anyone? 

Terreno 
[Coming out.~\ It Is no one. It Is the white 
linen that wrapped his body, tossed Into a corner. 

Mary 

Heard you no speaking within — no whisper- 
ing of unseen Hps? 

Terreno 
There Is no one. I heard nothing. You 
tremble. Sit still awhile. \_They sit again.'] 
You are changed, Magdalene. I see now how 
changed you are. I would be as tender to you as 
the memory of the dead that are loved. . . . 

Mary 
O, the dead that are loved I They are more 
beautiful than anything in the world. 

Terreno 
Are they more beautiful than the red of yonder 
dawn? 



278 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Mary 
It is terrible. It is like a bloody shield. It 
is like a shield besmeared with the blood of him 
who is dead, whom lonely women mourn. It is 
the blood of Jesus gathered into the sky to shame 
Jerusalem that murdered him. Look, is it not 
red like the fresh blood of something that men 
have slaughtered? 

Terreno 
You rouse yourself too much. You are moved 
by moods as leaves by passing winds. Have no 
more fear of me. I give you up. I know that 
for us not again. . . . 

Mary 
Not again. 

Terreno 
You thirst for love, yet you turn your lips away 
from the cup of love. You think you will be re- 
warded somewhere hereafter, in some other world 
perhaps. I do not know where it is you think 
you will be rewarded. . . . 

Mary 
{^Pointtng upward.'] Yonder. 

Terreno 
That is indefinite. It means nothing. Mag- 
dalene, listen to me. There will be no drink for 
them that thirsted here, and then lay down within 



THE RESURRECTION 279 

the earth. Each will lie with parching throat 
through all eternity. In the sunken garden of 
death there is no blooming. The grapes are 
withered. They yield no wine. 

Mary 
O, it is terrible to lie in the earth. I know not 
who will give drink. But there will be drink for 
them that thirst. Jesus hath said it. {^Starts 
up.] Look, is not some one coming toward us — 
there ? 

Terreno 
No one is coming. Sit still. 

Mary 
I wish it were light. I cannot see. I hear 
some one moving in the dark. 

Terreno 
It is the wind. 

Mary 

Look, is not some one holding a light yonder — 
a light that flickers? 

Terreno 
It is the dawn glistening on the waving leaves 
that are wet with dew. It is no one. 

Mary 
[Sits again.'] I saw him laid in the tomb. I 
know he is dead, yet I cannot think he is dead. I 



28o JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

think I must see him to-morrow coming on the 
way. I think I must again hear him speaking to 
the people. His voice — O, his voice was soft! 
It was Hke the voice of a mother pressing her 
child to her breast. It was more tender than 
the leaves of roses that the winds kiss in the 
summer mornings. 

Terreno 
He is dead. Let us not speak of him any more. 

Mary 
[Startled.'] Listen! I hear the piping of a 
shepherd's reed. How can that be? 

Terreno 
It is the song of birds that are waking with 
the breaking day. 

Mary 
[Sobbing.'] O Master, Jesus, where art thou? 

Terreno 
[Drying her eyes with a small white cloth,] 
Do not weep any more. Your face is hot from 
many tears. 

Mary 

[Taking the cloth from his hand and looking! 
at it.] This has blood upon it! From whence 
came this cloth? 



THE RESURRECTION 281 

Terreno 

I carried It from his tomb. It was lying in a 
corner. 

Mary 

[Rising.^ It has blood upon it! It is his 
blood! [Presses the cloth to her lips. Fran- 
tically.'] Look, ... he is standing by the 
tomb ! He is calling me ! I know his voice ! . . . 

Terreno 
\^Rising.] I hear no one, nor see anyone. 

Mary 
[Going forward.] O Master, thou art calling 
me ! 

Terreno 
[Following her.] Come back. There is no 
one by the tomb. 

Mary 
No, no, do not touch me ! See how beautiful 
he Is ! His face is like the sun In the summer 
when it is veiled by white clouds! I know his 
face ! 

Terreno 
No one is calling you. 

Mary 

Master, Jesus, It is thou ! Thou hast come to 
me again! It Is I, Mary! [Holding up the 
cloth.] See, thy blood! . . . 



282 JESUS: A PASSION PLAY 

Terreno 
[Trying to stop her.'\ To whom do you say 
this? I see no one. 

Mary 
[Repulsing him and falling to her knees,'] I 
will touch thy garment, O I will touch thy gar- 
ment! [^Crawling frantically forward.] I will 
touch thy feet! O Master, there is blood upon 
thy feet — big drops of blood! Thy feet are 
red with blood ! I will touch thy feet, I will kiss 
thy feet ! Thou art speaking. I know thy voice 1 
Go not yet, stay, O speak again! If thou goest 
I will follow thee! O deny me not! . . . They 
sit weeping in Jerusalem ! I will tell them ! O, 
I will run to them, I will tell them! . . . 

Terreno 

You are crying out like a mad woman. To 
whom are you crying out? There is no one here 
but ourselves. 

Mary 

[Rising.] Look — there he goes past the 
door of the tomb ! [Rushing out, heard calling.] 
Peter, John, Joanna, I have seen him! He has 
come out of the tomb ! . . . 

CURTAIN. 



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